Free Web NovelChapter 104: _Just You... And Your Desires
"When the fuck are you going to stay out of my business?" Devon was on Viktor the moment Ambrose left them. "Since our college days, you’ve always been full of horse shit."
Viktor sniggered. "Your business? Devvy, Devvy... Devvy." He wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "I keep asking you if Ambrose means something to you—"
"And I keep telling you it’s none of your business," Devon swatted his arm with a sneer. "Just stay away from him. You’ll never see him as someone important. Just a tool to use and—"
"Now that’s where you’re wrong," The smirk on Viktor’s face disappeared, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "You don’t seem to understand... There’s something refreshingly different about that Guide. I’ve never been this obsessed with getting someone and you know that."
People were busy hurrying out of the hall and making calls to save the world while this argument dragged on. Alisha couldn’t help but roll her eyes in her seat, rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"The most annoying part," she told herself, "is that neither of these morons has even outright told the poor Guide that they want a relationship. I know damn well Devon isn’t good with communicating."
Fortunately, before things could escalate, Irina chimed:
"Can you boys stop already?"
She and Magnus strode to the boys, both of them having a different shade of disappointment etched on their faces. Devon and Viktor instantly pulled away from each other but it was far too late.
"How childish," Magnus began, eyes flitting between the two of them, "can you be to fight like preschoolers in the middle of a global council meeting? While our nation is in the middle of a crisis as we speak."
Devon was about to say something but he raised a hand.
"I don’t want to hear it. Hunter Lockwood has already picked you two as a part of his team... for whatever reason," the Guild master’s wrinkled face gained new creases, "you two man up, shove whatever issues you have to whatever abyss they came from and get your head in the game."
He didn’t say anything else, brushing past them as he pulled out his phone.
Irina sighed, adjusting her fur coat before grabbing Viktor’s arm. "I don’t know why you keep doing this."
Viktor’s cheeks turned redder than a tomato. "Mama—wait..." It was no use, the Glacier Empress whisked him away from there and down the steps.
Devon inhaled, his head turning to the expectant gaze of Alisha. She had that familiar look in her eyes—the one she wore whenever she was about to say ’I told you so’.
She huffed through her mouth, shaking her head. "So Viktor Morozov," she glanced around, making sure no one was listening, "is truly having eyes for your permanent Guide."
It took a moment before Devon gave in, lowering himself to the seat beside her. He should probably be up and running like everyone else, but he was with the raiding team.
And so far, Valentine hasn’t given further instructions on that yet.
"I don’t know what to do, Alisha," he rubbed a hand down his face. "Sometimes I wonder if the link even affects him at all. Everything about him drives me crazy—both in a good way and a painfully terrible way."
He paused, inclining his head to her. "I think I might be fall—"
"Hell nah." She raised a hand before he could finish that sentence, shaking her head. "I know what you’re about to say. And if it’s what I think it is, I’m not the one you should be telling."
Devon bit his bottom lip, spinning his neck to the rest of the chamber ahead. Following the people trooping out like ants—while knowing each of them was a powerhouse in their own right.
Ambrose seemed so out of place in this part of the Hunter world. So out of place around him. Yet when it came to raising Orion... everything appeared to make sense.
"I’ve found so many ways to tell him," he finally said. "But he doesn’t seem to be catching on."
Alisha arched her brow. "Perhaps you need to be more upfront about how you feel. No flowery words. No drama. Just you... and your desires."
Silence settled between them.
Devon’s lips pursed as he adjusted his seating position.
Being up front...
Somehow that sounded more terrifying than whatever lay waiting at the other end of the Echo Rift.
★★★★★
By the time Ambrose got back to the hotel suite, his head was pounding.
The hallway felt too long.
He keyed the door open and stepped inside.
"Daddy?" Orion’s voice came immediately, small feet padding across the room. The kid stopped a few steps away, blinking up at him with those too-perceptive eyes. "You look weird."
Ambrose let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh. "I always look weird."
"No," Orion shook his head, frowning now. "Not like this."
That did it.
Ambrose walked past him, dropping onto a sofa like his bones had given up holding him together. He dragged a hand through his hair, staring blankly at nothing.
Orion hesitated.
Then climbed up beside him anyway. "...Did something happen?"
Ambrose didn’t answer at first.
Didn’t even realise when Orion shifted closer—until small arms wrapped around him.
And something in his chest cracked.
His hand moved on its own, pulling the kid in, holding him tighter than he meant to. "I don’t know when I’m going to see you again."
The words slipped out—quiet and rough.
Orion stilled. "What?"
Ambrose shut his eyes, jaw tightening. "Nothing. Forget I said that."
But his grip didn’t loosen. If anything, it tightened.
Too much was happening too fast. The Rift. The mission. Valentine. That system notification still ringing in his skull like a death sentence.
Survive the Echo Rift.
Yeah. Right.
A sharp knock cut through the room just then.
Ambrose froze.
Another knock followed. Slow this time.
His heart started pounding again, louder than before.
"Stay here," he muttered, gently pulling away from Orion as he stood.
Each step to the door felt heavier than the last. He paused, hand hovering over the handle before leaning slightly—just enough to peer through the keyhole.
And immediately jerked back. "Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me."
Because standing on the other side—Was Gabriel.
