Page 143 of Espíritu

Julian chuckled softly, his laugh a warm rumble against Yadriel’s stomach. “That’s wild,” he said, his voice thick with exhaustion. “’Cause I think it, like, all the time.”

Yadriel’s cheeks flushed, and he tightened his hold on Julian just a little. Something loosened under Yadriel’s ribs, relief and the stupid urge to laugh. “Good to know,” he murmured, a smile tugging at his lips.

Julian’s breathing evened out, his body relaxing completely against Yadriel’s. Across the room, Rio shifted in the recliner without opening his eyes. Lita’s candle burned steady beside Luca.

As sleep pulled Julian under, Yadriel closed his own eyes, letting himself be grounded by the weight of Julian’s presence.

For the first time in ages, Yadriel felt safe.

TWENTY-FOURJULIAN

Julian leaned against the doorway of Lita’s kitchen, watching as she bustled around the countertops with practiced ease. The smell of cinnamon and sweet masa filled the air, blending with the savory tang of simmering mole. Yadriel and Maritza stood by the stove, reheating frozen tamales they’d made earlier in the week in large, steaming pots while trading playful insults. It was comfortable chaos—noisy, warm, and alive.

He tried to let the warmth soak in, but something inside him refused to settle. His body stayed braced for impact.

Julian kept glancing toward the hallway, half expecting a shadow to stretch across the floor, or a cold draft to slip under the door. His nerves wouldn’t unclench. Not after what happened last night.

Yadriel glanced up, catching Julian’s eye. “Do you want to invite your friends to the Danza de la Luz Eterna tonight?” he asked, breaking Julian’s train of thought. His boyfriend’s tone was casual, but the look in his eyes was expectant.

Julian gave him a dubious look. “After last night, I’ve got the feeling they’ve kind of had their fill of, uh … paranormal activity.”

Yadriel chuckled, stacking tamales onto a platter with Maritza’s help. “Fair enough. We should probably ease them into it.”

Behind him, the thump of footsteps echoed down the hall. Rio appeared in the doorway, followed closely by Omar, Flaca, and Rocky, all of whom looked like they’d just rolled out of bed. Rocky’s hair stuck out at odd angles, and Omar’s T-shirt was a wrinkled mess. Flaca, somehow, still looked put together despite the dark circles under her eyes.

Luca appeared at Rio’s side, yawning and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

That was the first time Julian got a good look at him. His eyes immediately went to Luca’s chest, but there was nothing to see.

The dark spot was gone.

Relief hit him hard.

“How you holding up, little man?” Julian asked, a huge grin splitting his face.

“Tired,” Luca said, a little hoarse. “And sore,” he added, rubbing his chest. “But better.”

“Good,” Julian said, resisting the urge to reach out and touch the spot where the Marca Hueca had been. It was gone. Luca was whole again.

“What’s goin’ on in here?” Rio asked, his gaze flicking to the table of tamales.

“Yadriel wants you to come to the Danza tonight,” Julian said, his lips twitching in a half smile. “Apparently, it’s open to normies. Or, my normies, I guess.”

Rocky crossed her arms, tilting her head. “There’s a dark god on the loose and we’re throwing a party?”

“Yeah,” Flaca chimed in, raising her hands in mock surrender. “No offense, but I think we’ve hit our paranormal quota for the year.”

Julian gave Yadriel a pointed look. “Told you.”

Yadriel rolled his eyes.

Omar frowned. “What even is this Danza anyway?”

“Danza de la Luz Eterna,” Yadriel explained. He didn’t seem fazed by their reactions. “It’s a celebration—candles, food, music. We honor the spirits and keep the light burning.”

“It’s not just a ceremony,” Maritza interjected. “It’s a feast. Food, drinks, the whole thing. It’s a way to make sure no one is ever really forgotten.”

Rocky squinted. “And we’re doing that … now?”