Page 34 of Hallowed & Haunted

Sander pets Karo’s fur, flustered enough that he needs to keep his hands busy.

“That you live in a blockhouse on your grandma’s land. That you helped her build it during the summer when you were sixteen.”

“You were being nosy.”

He offers Sander a hand up, and Sander takes it gratefully.

Karo whines pitifully, brushing against their legs.

“I was pathetically interested from the first day you came to practice. But you seemed so disinterested in me that I didn’t know how to help myself.”

“That’s why you’ve been acting all bratty?” He pulls Sander in by his hips, elated and so relieved that Sander likes him, has liked him from day one, and feels safe enough to admit it. “Were you trying to get my attention, Captain?”

Sander shudders.

“Did it work?”

Niillas answers by pulling him into another kiss, reveling in the way Sander melts against him, and for a second Niillas is tempted to drag him to the car and have his way with him there and then. But Sander’s skin is still cool to the touch, and they’re both too tall for that car sex shit, anyway. Better to get Sander home. Reluctantly, Niillas pulls away.

“Let’s get home. We’ve stayed long enough, and you’re getting cold again.”

As if on cue, Sander’s stomach rumbles.

“Would you—would you like to come to my place? We could get breakfast from that place in Strandgata?”

“Sounds good,” Niillas says. “Great, actually.”

Niillas shoulders his backpack, and Sander takes the sleeping bag. He whistles for Karo and wraps his free arm around Sander’s shoulder as they step through the hallway. Sander presses closer without a word, eyeing the stairs leading to the upper floor warily.

“Nobody’s there,” Niillas whispers against his hair. “Only dust and damp timber.”

“But it’s good to get out of here,” Sander says as soon as they step out into the open and leave the oppressive atmosphere of the house behind.

He clings to Niillas all the way to the Defender, and even Karo seems keen to leave this dreary place, jumping into the back seat without hesitation.

Niillas starts the engine and pulls backward onto the forest road leading away from the farm when Sander flinches.

“What is it?”

Face gray with shock, Sander’s fingers are digging almost painfully into Niillas’ thigh.

“There. I thought—I thought there was some movement by the door.”

Niillas turns around, taking in the farmhouse bathed in the pale light of the November morning. Everything is perfectly still now. But Sander is surprisingly attuned to the spiritual world. He might’ve spotted something Niillas has missed.

“Oh god, I’m such a mess.” Sander’s voice is shaky. “It was probably nothing.”

Pulling Sander’s hand to his lips, Niillas kisses his knuckles.

“More likely an aftershock from last night. The veil between the worlds is still thinner than usual. Maybe you saw it ripple.”

“Am I going to see ghosts at every corner from now on?”

Niillas considers his answer carefully. He doesn’t want to scare Sander, but he also doesn’t want to lie.

“Don’t worry, you won’t. But I guess you’re sensitive. You might spot the other worlds from time to time, especially when you’re out in the wilderness, crossing places with a power of their own.”

“Still sounds scary.”