Page 161 of Espíritu

“Don’t you dare mess this up,” she hissed after him.

Julian darted forward, weaving through the other brujx, and slipped into the circle. He caught up to Yadriel just as the rhythm quickened.

“Julian—what are you doing?” Yadriel whispered, startled and smiling.

“Learning by doing!” Julian said, moving his feet in patterns that could only be described as erratic. “What’s the next step?”

Yadriel gave a short, incredulous laugh, his whole body relaxing. “You’re gonna knock someone’s candle—”

“I’ll be graceful!” Julian immediately tripped.

They both broke into laughter. Yadriel danced, guiding Julian with glances and the flick of a hand. Julian followed (ish). His feet were wrong, his rhythm worse, but he matched the joy in Yadriel’s smile perfectly. He didn’t even drop his candle.

Maritza joined, candle in one hand, the other yanking Julian into place as she kicked her skirt with weaponized flair.

Together, they danced. Not perfectly. Not solemnly. But full of light and life, bumping shoulders and laughing.

The music shifted brighter. Trumpet players joined and the music swelled. More brujx stepped into the circle, their candles held high. More voices joined in, laughter and celebration erupting around them, each grito sending another flicker of light jumping toward the stars. The courtyard flickered with firelight and movement, a living constellation of warmth and welcome.

Laughter spilled. Partners spun. Between skirts and candlelight, spirits danced as well. An older spirit couple twirled arm in arm near the edges of the crowd, their footsteps light as breath. Nina and Rosa giggled as they darted between tables, their laughter echoing softly, chasing each other in loops that passed through the legs of the living.

Julian’s cheeks hurt from smiling. His legs ached. He didn’t want it to stop.

Here, in the glow of the Candle Dance, surrounded by friends and family and spirits who watched over them, he felt whole.

He and Yadriel slipped to the edge of the courtyard, breathless. Maritza vanished toward the champurrado. They found a quiet corner, just beyond the reach of the candlelight, where the shadows softened and the cold made them huddle close. Julian didn’t step away when the music swelled again. He stayed pressed to Yadriel like the night might try to take him back.

Their cheeks were pink with wind and laughter. Their hands were still faintly glowing from the dance.

Julian leaned into Yadriel, their shoulders brushing. “You were amazing out there,” he murmured.

Yadriel ducked his head, grinning. “You tripped three times.”

“I fell with style.”

Yadriel chuckled through his words. “You fell into me!”

“Strategy!”

They both laughed.

Julian nudged him. “Seriously, though. Watching you lead like that? I hope you know how proud I am. How proud everyone is.”

Yadriel looked up, his eyes warm and glowing gold in the candlelight. “Thanks,” he said softly. “That … actually means a lot.”

They stood in silence for a moment, candles flickering all around them. Somewhere across the courtyard, a child laughed. A guitar eased into a slower tune. Above them, the sky was velvet black and pinpricked with stars.

Yadriel leaned his head against Julian’s. “Think they’re still watching?” he asked quietly.

Julian laced their fingers together. A draft swept through the courtyard, flickering the candles. Julian shifted automatically, angling his body so Yadriel’s flame stayed steady. “We lit the whole damn night,” he said. “No way they’d miss it.”

Yadriel’s lips quirked into a smile. He tilted his head up, just enough to press a kiss to Julian’s cheek.

Hours later, Lita handed him, Yadriel, and Maritza each a giant Tupperware full of hojarasca and marranito cookies, waving them off toward the apartment like a tiny general dispatching troops.

The three of them climbed the long outdoor stairs, the night air still tasting faintly of copal and sugar. Laughter and music leaked under the apartment door. Somebody whooped over the clatter of dishes.

Halfway up, Luca was asleep on the steps, sweater bunched under his cheek, one hand curled like he’d meant to keep himself awake.