Fox skipped a couple of steps so he was ahead of Winter, tilting his head a little to the side as he smiled at last. “The Fox Effect?”
“I thought it was a good name. You got a better one?” Winter asked, hating the faint heat growing in his cheeks.
“No! I like it. I’m glad you didn’t make it sound like a disease.”
Winter snorted and stopped by the first bench that was under one of the lamps. “You just stand here. I need to slip away to check to make sure ghosts are actually near.”
“You mean go into the dead world. Can I go? Please. The last time we were kind of running for our lives. Didn’t really get to enjoy it.”
Winter had zero defense against Fox’s wide, hopeful eyes and childlike wonder. How was he supposed to say no to that? Changing the rope he carried to his left hand, he extended his right to Fox. The young man squeaked and pumped his right fist into the air while grabbing Winter’s hand with his left. He was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet as Winter tapped his powers and parted the veil.
As they stepped inside, Fox tightened his grip on Winter’s hand, moving close enough to press their arms together. There was only a small shift in his vision as the world around them seemed to take on a new glow. Winter smiled to see all the ghosts filling the park like it was a sunny summer afternoon. There was a jogger heading toward them and a couple sitting on the grass not too far away like they were having a picnic. A few more were strolling through, and another appeared to be taking a shower. He could never quite understand why some appeared to be well aware of their surroundings while others were not, as if they’d been picked up and moved from wherever they’d died, then remained trapped in their last moment of life.
“This is so cool,” Fox said in excited but hushed tones as if he were trying not to draw their attention. “Is this what the world looks like for you when I’m not around?”
Winter’s heart sped up a little as bubbles of joy popped in his chest. He’d never been able to talk about his ability with anyone, never shared it quite like this. He’d brought Bel into it once, but it was better to not let his brother ask questions. They’d never stop and would lead to more uncomfortable questions.
But with Fox, it wasn’t complicated or dangerous. It was so very freeing.
“Not quite. There are some ghosts that I can only see when I’m here. There are a few who can appear in both worlds. I have no idea why some exist in both. I once thought it had to do with how long they were dead, but I’ve seen the newly dead only appear here and never in the living world.” He didn’t need to go into the fact that he’d made those people the newly dead.
“Can you hear voices from both or just those in the living world?”
Winter shook his head. “No, I hear both. I can talk to both, though it’s far easier to talk to those in the dead world while I’m here.”
Fox leaned his head on Winter’s shoulder and grabbed his arm with his right hand, cuddling as close as he could. Winter wished he wasn’t still holding the damn rope. Otherwise, he would have wrapped Fox in his arms and stood there all night, letting him watch the ghosts move about. It was sort of like watching fish in an aquarium.
“Can they hurt us?”
“Not that I’ve ever experienced. They’ve given me headaches from their shouting and moaning, but that’s about it.”
Fox turned his head against Winter’s shoulder, worried eyes looking up at him. “But this is tiring, isn’t it? You’re using magic right now.”
Winter hesitated. It was true. The longer they stayed there, the more drained he was getting, but he didn’t want to admit to it. He didn’t want to end this moment of wonder and excitement for Fox. It seemed like such a small gift to give him after everything he’d already been through, but Fox was a unique person in his life. Other than Aiden, he was the only one who knew his darkest secret. He didn’t want to keep any secrets from this man or start telling lies.
“Yes, it does get tiring, especially when I’ve got someone with me,” he admitted softly.
Fox rested his head on Winter again and gave a little sigh. “Then we should go. Your ghosts are here.”
Winter turned his head and pressed a kiss to Fox’s forehead, his heart swelling. “We’ll do this again soon. I promise.” Hell, he’d bring Fox to the dead world every night for visits if that was what he wanted. He’d do anything to see that light in his eyes and hear that excited laugh.