Free Web NovelChapter 86: _If I Said I Want You
Room 239.
It was placed between Alisha and Bruce’s suites, making it feel a little cramped in Ambrose’s books.
The door opened and revealed a living room painted white. Four purple two-seat sofas surrounded the centre of the room, a chandelier hanging from the top like crystallised stars.
At the opposite end of the room were French doors leading to the balcony. To their left—a door leading to a single bedroom with two king-sized beds. To their right was a large flat screen TV, a fireplace crackling in the wall underneath.
It felt like the kind of place you crashed in when going on a vacation around the world. Not while attending a global conference that could decide the fate of humankind.
"Finally!" Orion was the first to run in. "I’ve gotta pee, daddy."
Ambrose sighed, gesturing at the master bedroom. As the boy bolted in that direction, the Guide’s face shifted to something more serious, head inclining to Devon.
"What was that all about?"
Devon arched his brow. "What are you—"
"This cat fight between you and Viktor," Ambrose pushed, pivoting fully to him now. "What is your deal with him, Devon? You say you’re trying to look out for me, but why? Why don’t you like me around him?"
It was clear from how disoriented he appeared that the question took Devon by surprise. His mouth opened and shut once or twice, eyes darting around as if they weren’t the only ones in the room.
Ambrose stayed patient. Waiting for a response.
Finally, he got one: "I just don’t trust his intentions, okay? He’s... he’s a player. Like—"
"Like you?" Ambrose tried to keep his voice low. "Everyone knows your relationship with Han was mostly because of his power level as an A-Rank Guide."
"Rose, that isn’t fair."
"It’s what I’ve heard, Devon." A pause. "I’ve told you this before... We aren’t dating. What we’ve got going on—this thing with raising Orion—please, don’t think it means anything more than it is."
He stared into those golden eyes, unable to read what the Esper had in his mind. Disappointment? Anger? Whatever it was, he hoped what he just said was rooted in him.
However, as he picked up the bags and attempted to head for the bedroom, Devon caught his wrist.
"What if I say I want you, Ambrose?" He questioned softly. "What if... what if I want us to be more than this? More than just a permanent Guide-Esper pair raising a kid?"
Ambrose’s heart dropped.
Chills ran through his being like electricity, flashes of his past life rushing through his mind. Flashes of the coldness in the eyes of the man he once gave his all to. Of the blood as he fell to his knees, gripping him desperately.
The same one who stole his life.
Now hearing Devon ask this... it equally warmed his heart and shook a primal part of him he’s tried to keep hidden since his transmigration. A part of him he didn’t want unburied.
Without a word, Ambrose slipped his hand out of Devon’s grip. He sniffled, avoiding eye contact as he trailed to the bedroom again.
"Rose—"
"We can’t," the words burst out of Ambrose’s mouth before he could stop them. He blinked back the wetness building up in his eyes, shaking his head. "We can’t be anything more, Devon. I’m... I’m sorry..."
His voice broke at the end but he did a good job masking it.
Just then, Orion wandered into the living room, head swinging between his parents. His eyes were wide with worry. "Daddy? Are you two arguing again?"
Ambrose bit his bottom lip, quickly using the back of his hand to wipe his eyes. "N–No... no, little light," he walked up to the boy, lowering himself to his level. "We’re just talking. Okay?"
He didn’t know when he pulled the kid in for a hug. Ambrose huffed, closing his eyes for a moment. Giving himself time to regain his composure.
Once his nerves had relaxed and the shaking stopped, he got on his feet. "Come," he held Orion’s hand. "We’ve got to set some ground rules before we leave."
As they went into the bedroom, little did Ambrose know that Devon noticed his distress when the topic of a relationship came up. His fists curled, eyes narrowing.
"Who made you shut out your heart, Rose?" He mumbled, mind already reeling with options.
★★★★★
Apostolic Palace
In the next ten minutes, Ambrose, Devon, Alisha and Bruce converged at the holy building a few walks away from the hotel. This place was even more guarded, each security detail exuding B to A-Rank auras.
Ambrose and Devon walked side by side as if nothing had happened at the hotel.
The corridors of the palace stretched endlessly, polished marble floors reflecting soft golden light from antique chandeliers. Each footstep echoed too loud no matter how quietly they tried to walk.
And at the same time... each footstep gave Ambrose a wider understanding of his surroundings. The walls were thick. Like they were designed to hide things behind them.
A few guards led them down the corridors until they got to a flight of stairs descending into what felt like interconnected underground tunnels.
Ambrose immediately got a bad feeling, throwing the guards a look. Devon saw his hesitance and cleared his throat.
"You’re certain the meeting is down there?"
The guards didn’t slow down.
"Orders from the Council," one of them replied, already stepping onto the first step. "All representatives are to assemble below."
Ambrose’s jaw tightened, but he moved.
The descent was longer than it had any right to be. The stairs curved slightly, carved from the same pale stone as the palace above. Their footsteps echoed in uneven patterns now, bouncing off walls that felt... denser.
Like they were meant to keep something in.
Or out.
They reached the base, but it didn’t end there.
There were more corridors.
Sharp turns. Left. Right. Another slope downward disguised as a gentle incline. The guards moved like they’d memorised the path. No hesitation. No pause.
Ambrose’s spatial awareness stretched ahead of him—
—and then suddenly expanded.
His breath caught.
There was a massive space ahead. With people in it. Not just one or two presences.
Hundreds.
His steps slowed instinctively before picking up again, this time with purpose. He moved ahead of the others without thinking, drawn forward by that overwhelming awareness.
"Rose..." Devon started, but stopped when Ambrose didn’t falter.
They turned one final corner and stepped in.
The hall opened up like a different world.
Wide, circular, tiered—rows upon rows of seating descending toward a central floor. Screens hovered above, softly lit. Flags and insignias were mounted on the walls.
It felt like a war room pretending to be civilised.
Bright overhead lights cast everything in sharp clarity, leaving no shadows to hide in.
Ambrose exhaled slowly, grounding himself.
A vibration of pure power pressed against his skin from every direction.
Devon’s phone buzzed. He glanced down, then scanned the room. "Over there."
He nodded toward a section marked subtly—American representatives.
They moved, slipping into their assigned seats. Viktor was already there, a small smirk on his face as he watched them ascend the steps.
Magnus and Irina were also seated there.
And—
Ambrose stilled.
Right there, sitting beside Magnus with a calm expression was a familiar face. Dark skin. Handsome features and dazzling iridescent eyes that scoured the hall—until they cut to him all of a sudden.
’Shit...’ Ambrose looked away, feeling like he just got noticed by a god. ’Gabriel Silverstone.’
The same SS-Rank who saved their asses back in Norfolk. Who also placed a spatial lock around the Echo Rift. And, more importantly... whom the system marked for an unknown future mission.
He stuck close to Devon as they sat, avoiding eye contact and praying the guy didn’t do anything funny. Fortunately, if he was going to, he didn’t get the chance.
"Ladies and gentlemen," a female voice echoed through the hall, instantly bringing silence with it. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."
The silence stretched for several seconds. The person who spoke was the Council’s speaker, a woman with grey hair and a suit—seated at an elevated part of the hall.
She lowered her glasses, eyes sweeping past every face. "... Shall we begin?"
