Free Web NovelChapter 198: _We’ve Officially Lost Valentine Lockwood
Valentine’s Pent House
"Tch. A naughty little Guide indeed." The Necromancer mumbled with a small grin as he stared at the text Ambrose sent him.
After a long day of getting too deep for comfort with Hunter politics, he was looking forward to spending the rest of the evening doing nothing.
But then he recalled Ambrose left him on read this morning—and that annoyed him in a way he would rather not wish to expatiate on.
"Don’t tell me you and that C-Rank have anything going on." An aggravating voice echoed from his kitchen island.
He sighed, looking over his shoulder and staring at none other than Gabriel. "We’re done with our meeting with the Federation. Aren’t you supposed to be hibernating on a mountain in Canada or something?"
"Funny," Gabriel deadpanned. "Seriously, what’s up with you and Ambrose Hale?"
"What’s the matter? Is someone jealous?"
"Get over yourself, Valentine." Gabriel snorted. "Just pointing out—you do realise you’re literally decades older than the kid, right? He’s not even up to twenty-five."
"You say that like I’m a balding grandpa." Valentine didn’t know if he should feel insulted. "Anyway, it’s good that you feel the need to get involved in my affairs with him. Because it seems he requires our help with a lie."
That piqued Gabriel’s interest instantly.
He frowned, spinning on the stool he sat on. "How so?"
"Well, this morning he texted me, saying he needs my help with a lie. We didn’t talk further because... well I forgot and I guess he did too." A pause. "Now he’s gotten back to me with details. Apparently, he wants me to pretend like at some point today I came into his room through one of your portals and whisked him away."
Gabriel looked completely confused. "And why would he want to lie with that?"
"He says he can’t tell me and I shouldn’t ask." Valentine shrugged. "Such a sneaky fella. Reminds me of myself when I was his age."
"But wait—let me get something straight. Did he reach out again this evening or did you do that?"
"... I reached out. Why?"
A laugh clawed its way up Gabriel’s throat before exploding out of his mouth in the most dramatic way possible. Valentine gawked with confusion as the SS-Rank doubled over, placing a hand on his stomach.
"Dear lord, he’s got you too." Gabriel sniffled, rubbing his forehead as he straightened again. "Excuse me but since when does Valentine Lockwood care about not getting a text?"
The Necromancer pursed his lips. "Who says I do?"
"You’re literally the picture-perfect example of a high school kid kicking their feet after being asked out to prom."
"That’s not oddly specific at all..."
"It’s the best description I could come up with."
"One I never asked for." Valentine shifted his gaze from him when he got another text from Ambrose.
It read: "How was the little SS-Rank meeting by the way? Viktor told me there was going to be one."
The ghost of a smirk tugged at Valentine’s face. He typed back quickly: >" And why should I tell you that?"<
He watched the ’typing’ icon loading for a few seconds... then the Guide’s response came.
>" I mean, I’m only curious."<
Gabriel stared at him from across the penthouse before slowly lifting a brow. "Oh, that’s bad."
Valentine didn’t even look up. "What is?"
"I’ve genuinely never seen you grin at your phone before."
That finally made the Necromancer’s eyes flick upward.
His lips flattened immediately. "Do you mind?"
"Very much so, actually." Gabriel hopped off the stool, strolling closer with shameless curiosity written all over his face. "Because now I’m interested."
"Unfortunately for you," Valentine drawled, "I don’t remember asking for your interest."
Gabriel peered at the screen anyway. "Mm. Flirty texting too? Ambrose Hale, you’ve changed lives."
Valentine clicked his tongue irritably before returning his attention to the phone.
> "Curiosity killed the cat, sweetheart."<
The typing icon appeared almost instantly this time.
> "Good thing I’m not a cat then."<
A low chuckle escaped the Necromancer before he could stop it.
Gabriel looked speechless.
"Oh, he’s gone." The Space God placed a dramatic hand over his chest. "We’ve officially lost Baba Yaga."
"You’re painfully annoying," Valentine muttered, although the amusement lingering in his tone weakened the insult significantly.
His fingers moved across the keyboard once more:
> "Careful. Confidence like that gets people into trouble."<
Ambrose’s reply came after a few seconds.
> "Says the man who’s literally a walking red flag."<
Valentine barked out an actual laugh this time.
Gabriel pointed accusingly. "There! Again! You’re smiling like an idiot."
"Gabriel."
"What?"
"You know, for someone praised as a god of space, you spend an impressive amount of time in my business."
"And you spend an impressive amount of time texting a twenty-two-year-old Guide."
That shut Valentine up for half a second.
Only half.
> "Go to sleep before you create more problems for yourself, little Guide."<
The response that came made his eyes narrow with faint amusement.
> "Wow. Goodnight to you too, your creepiness."<
Valentine’s thumb hovered briefly over the screen before he finally typed:
> "Goodnight, Ambrose. Try not to lie to too many people tomorrow."<
He clicked send.
And then paused.
Something about that exchange felt... strange.
Not the teasing. That part came naturally.
No—the problem was the way he’d been reacting ever since the Guide entered his life.
The constant curiosity. The urge to reach out first. The irritation whenever Ambrose disappeared.
The fact that he’d actually been staring at his phone waiting for another response like some teenager with their first crush.
Valentine slowly lowered the device, his brows knitting together faintly. "... Huh."
Gabriel immediately perked up. "Oh? Self-awareness kicking in?"
"Shut up."
But even Valentine couldn’t ignore it anymore.
Something was definitely off.
★★★★★
Back in Ambrose’s suite, the Guide snorted softly at the last text before sliding his phone into his pocket.
Devon noticed instantly. "You look suspiciously entertained over there."
"Oh, hush." Ambrose waved lazily before reaching for another taco.
Orion meanwhile was still aggressively invested in the documentary. "Daddy! Daddy! That astronaut almost floated away!"
"Sounds rough, buddy."
The little family moment resumed naturally enough.
At least... until translucent blue screens suddenly flickered across Ambrose’s vision.
His chewing slowed.
[ALERT: Valentine Lockwood’s attraction points toward Host have increased.]
Ambrose nearly inhaled his drink wrong.
Then the next notification appeared.
[CURRENT ATTRACTION POINTS: 66.]
"... What?" He whispered under his breath.
