Free Web NovelChapter 85: _Claim Him Already
Vatican City
"This place seems so... quiet," Orion noted once they finally arrived at the small city.
Ambrose glanced at the boy, watching the way Devon carried him as they walked down the streets. Ahead of them, Alisha and Bruce sauntered, the former occasionally looking back curiously at the child they had with them.
The flight here had been a long one. But fortunately... no drama. And that was more than enough for Ambrose.
Vatican City wasn’t just ’small’. It felt like a neighbourhood where every street and paved walkway was built to keep secrets. The morning sunlight on the pavement made the place seem as if it had been taken right out of a painting.
Ambrose’s spatial awareness worked overtime, giving him sensory details of every structure and person within a two-hundred-meter radius.
This part of the city was almost empty, save for a few guards standing at strategic spots and others walking around them—Espers and Guides alike.
"Here we are." Alisha spread out her arms as they arrived at the entrance of a large hotel, just a few blocks away from the Apostolic Palace.
She took off her headphones, glancing lazily at the others before striding into the marble-floored lobby.
The room was bathed in golden light, and other Hunters were already present and moving around. The hotel had clearly been cleared out—security tighter than most government buildings.
Alisha’s gaze was pinned on a woman behind a counter at the end.
Before they even approached, the woman had raised her head with a polite smile. "Good morning, ma’am." She paused, noticing the Phoenix Flight insignia on Alisha’s black blazer. "You’re with the American Guilds, right? Phoenix Flight."
Alisha nodded, resting her arms on the counter. "Yes. We were told you’ve got rooms for us," she pointed back at Devon and Orion. "We aren’t staying long though. They’d like to drop off their—"
"Ward." Ambrose hurriedly inputted before she could say ’child’, rushing to her side. "Our ward. We can’t take him to the conference with us."
He heard Bruce chuckling behind them, muttering something under his breath. The woman behind the counter arched a brow, her eyes scanning over everyone for a moment.
Then—her practised smile returned. "Of course. And you’re sure he’s going to be okay alone?"
Ambrose’s lips pursed as his gaze shifted back to Devon and the little kid he held. Orion was silent, those golden eyes glinting with innocent curiosity.
He’s rarely ever been outside... let alone getting flown over oceans to another continent.
"Sure." Ambrose brought his attention back to the lady. "Hopefully we won’t be too long but he’s a well-behaved kid. Trust me."
The lady nodded lightly. "I can see that. You and your... partner are clearly doing a good job with him."
’Dear lord, I’m going to evaporate if she keeps this up.’ his cheeks burned but he didn’t dare look back at Devon.
The S-Rank probably had a smirk on his face right now.
After typing something into her laptop for a few seconds, the woman pulled out three keycards. "The third floor is reserved specifically for the North American Guilds. Rooms 238, 239 and 240 are yours."
Alisha took the keycards, distributing them to the others. "Thanks."
From the information they got on their way here, every member country of the International Hunters Council brought along nothing more than three Guilds representing them—each one carrying along only a few members.
Ambrose flashed one last smile at the woman as they all turned to leave. That’s when he sensed it. Someone was heading toward them from one of the elevators.
His head angled in that direction, heart skipping a beat when he saw who it was.
Bloody fuck.
"Look who finally joined the party." If you were guessing Viktor Morozov... you’d be correct.
The ice Prince wore an icy blue fur coat, spreading out his gloved hands as he waltzed toward them. He had the biggest grin on, flanked by his assistant and two other S-Ranks from Glacier Talon.
Viktor’s attention snagged on Ambrose, surprise flickering on his expression. "Ambrose?" He squinted. "Now what could you possibly be doing here?"
Before Ambrose could even register his words, Devon stepped in, blocking him from Viktor. "That’s none of your business, Viktor. We were just leaving."
Devon gave Ambrose a subtle glance, signalling him to drag the bags along. They’d barely made it a few steps when Viktor chuckled.
"Now, Devon," he lulled. "What’s with all this tension? Still mad about that date I took your not boyfriend on?"
Both men faced off, poor Orion clueless on his Papa’s arms. The air shifted—subtle, but enough. Even without looking, Ambrose knew their energies were stirring.
"Can you guys stop already?" Alisha groaned, rubbing a hand down her face. "You can measure rulers later. The meeting’s going to start in thirty minutes."
She paced past them, Bruce following behind after flicking his eyes from Ambrose, to Devon and then to Viktor repeatedly. As if trying to decipher the dynamic between them.
Once they were gone, Devon uttered. "She’s right. This is neither the time nor the place."
"It’s never the time or place with you, old friend," Viktor snorted, shoving his hands into his pockets. His blue orbs lingered too long on Ambrose, letting the latter know that he was watching. Calculating. "If you can get so pressed over things like—"
"Things like what?" Devon snapped.
"I was getting there." Viktor’s grin widened. "Things like imagining me... with the Guide you can’t seem to get your eyes off." he took a daring step closer. "Why don’t you just make him yours? Claim him as your boyfriend?"
It was at this point that Ambrose’s eyes swept through the lobby. From the woman behind the counter, to a few guards and guests—people were watching.
Judging.
His grip on their bags tightened as embarrassment washed through him. "Let’s go." He whispered to Devon. "Please."
The latter stayed rooted to the spot for a few more seconds. Then—he let out an exasperated breath, lowering Orion to the floor.
The three of them left, leaving Viktor standing there with his arms slowly folding in front of his chest.
"Why does the Guide find the need to follow him to every important event?" Viktor murmured to himself, eyes narrowing on their receding backs. "They even brought that child with them."
Viktor watched them disappear down the hall, his smile slowly fading.
"If he’s here..." his eyes gleamed. "Then this meeting just got a lot more interesting."
