Free Web NovelChapter 22: _Can’t Feel Him Anymore
When Devon stepped out of Ambrose’s suite, his mind was set.
He couldn’t continue keeping Han in the dark. And he truly was no longer needed.
Just barely an hour spent in Ambrose’s space... kept him stable. More stable than he’s been in the years since he awakened. No Guide has ever come close to removing the noise.
In making everything... peaceful.
Then there was that child.
Orion.
Although Ambrose insisted on not sharing much about the kid, Devon knew he was something special. He didn’t understand why, but he also wanted to stay close to him.
Maybe that way he’ll find out why the boy feels so familiar.
With all that said—
"Devon?" Han’s deadpan expression lit up the moment he opened his suite door and saw Devon.
Standing there with his hands in his jacket pocket.
Thrilled, Han stretched a hand forward, grabbing his shoulder. "I was searching for you earlier. Where were you?" He beckoned to him to come in but Devon backed up by a step.
Han froze, his smile falling. "Is something wrong?"
The hallway was quiet and empty. This floor of the HQ building housed the Guild’s high-ranking guides... who were barely a handful but still given special treatment arguably as good as the S-Rank Espers.
The point is, it was the perfect atmosphere to break the news to Han.
"I can’t come in, Han," Devon began, voice soft. Tinged with guilt. "There’s no easy way to say this. But I—"
"Is it about you almost going berserk in the dungeon raid?" Han fought to give a reason that wasn’t there. "I told you I’ll guide you but you insisted you’re fine. Come on—"
"Han, just stop." Devon shut his eyes, inhaling once. "You’re grasping for straws at this point. Straws that I can no longer offer you."
Silence.
If a pin dropped it would probably echo through the entire corridor.
Han’s brows furrowed. "Grasping for straws? What are you talking about, Devon?" His voice was edged with agitation now.
As expected.
Devon’s eyes opened again. And this time, he no longer held back.
"I’m breaking up with you, Guide Han." He let the words out like it was poison that stayed too long in his lungs. "And our temporary link is over. We can no longer be together in any way outside work."
For Han, it felt like the air in the hallway was becoming thinner. His stoic mask cracked, eyes twitching with confusion and something else.
Something darker.
"It’s Ambrose," Han muttered, face setting back to a stone-cold front. "Isn’t it? He must have done or said something."
This was the part Devon didn’t know how to navigate.
Ambrose was a C-rank Guide who was able to permanently link with an S Rank Esper like himself. Without overexerting himself or worse.
Such remarkable compatibility was unheard of and would definitely draw too much attention to Devon. On Ambrose.
So far only Alisha knew about it and he was content with that. She could keep a secret. But Han?
"It has nothing to do with Ambrose," Devon kept his tone steady, shaking his head. "It’s just a personal decision. We first established this relationship just so you could be my temporary guide."
Han shot back. "And then it became something real. Wasn’t it?" When he moved his hand again, he touched Devon’s cheek. "Look into my eyes and tell me it was real."
That guilt in Devon’s chest magnified. His jaw worked, head swaying away from Han. The latter’s guiding energy tried and failed to create a connection.
To hold his aether energy. His mind.
As Han’s eyes opened again, he mumbled. "I can’t feel you anymore..."
This was enough.
Drawing it out would only be more hurtful to the Guide. So, Devon grabbed his wrist, gently lowering it. "It’s better this way. Believe me."
He inched back, heaving heavily. Han stared at him with trembling eyes, his chest rising and falling like he was struggling to breathe.
"I do hope we can remain friends though." Devon lifted his right hand for a handshake. "Would you—?"
BANG!
The words barely got the chance to land as Han slammed the door shut. Sounds of locks being set at the other side followed, leaving Devon standing there awkwardly.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "Or not, I guess." A sigh. "That went smoother than expected. This could’ve gone worse."
Freedom.
A satisfied smile curved his mouth... but his chest still felt tight. He said freedom... but his hand still trembled slightly.
Now that he was officially single again, he had no idea what that would mean for him and Ambrose. Being in a relationship with one’s permanent Guide was the advisable thing to do.
But if he were to seek a relationship with the Guide, would it be just because of the link? Or because he genuinely liked him?
"Another stumbling block." He chuckled dryly to himself, finally strutting away from Han’s door. "It won’t hurt to ask him. Or... perhaps I can test the waters and see if we could work something out."
Meanwhile, as Devon imagined a future beyond Guiding with his fated Guide... Han stood at the other end of his suite’s door. His dark eyes glowing with an icy light.
His fists clenched beside him. "You’ll pay for making me feel like a fool," he promised. "Oh, you will."
★★★★★
After much consideration, Devon decided to head back to Ambrose’s suite. He still had a lot of time before he had to give a report to his grandfather this evening.
On getting in front of the white door, he stopped for a breath. ’It would be unwise to just jump into a relationship with him seconds after a breakup.’ he thought. ’I’ll just take things slow. Yeah. Set all my cards.’
With a satisfied huff, he knocked once, then twice on the door.
Seconds passed yet there were no signs of someone coming to the door.
He frowned, glancing left and right in the hallway before knocking again. "Ambrose? It’s Hunter Devon. I—"
The door swung open almost instantly.
Unexpectedly, it wasn’t Ambrose’s silver eyes that met his gaze when the door was opened. It was the big golden eyes of Orion, a broad smile on his lips.
"Daddy went out some minute ago." The little boy announced, already stepping aside so he could come in. "He should be back soon. Do you want to wait for him?"
Devon’s mouth parted.
There was that warmth in his chest again.
"I..." he hesitated. "I don’t think—"
Without warning, the little boy grabbed his fingers, pulling him into the living room. Devon let him, a smile playing on his face despite himself.
"Come on, it’ll be fun!" Orion giggled innocently as he locked the door behind them, hopping to the TV.
Devon only stared at him without arguing.
Yet deep down, his thoughts trailed. ’Where could he have run off to?’
Something felt wrong.
