slabs. Julian only spared them a quick glance, long enough to see two people waking up. The others who had been sacrificed. Had Yadriel saved them all? Where was the fourth?
His eyes shot back to the man.
“It’s okay,” the man repeated. “He’s my cousin.”
Julian’s lips twitched. “Cousin?” he repeated. “Miguel?”
The man blinked. “Yes,” Miguel said, giving him a confused look. “How do you—?”
“HELP HIM!” Julian shouted.
Miguel jumped but leaned forward. Julian shifted back just far enough so Miguel could feel the side of Yadriel’s neck. “He’s breathing, he’s going to be okay,” he said.
Julian let out a heavy breath, so relieved he felt like he might pass out. Thank God, thank God, thank God.
“I’ll go get help,” Miguel said, getting to his feet. “Can you look after them?”
As if there were any force on earth that could tear Julian from Yadriel’s side. “HURRY!” he snapped.
Miguel tore off up the stairs.
To the side, the two others—a girl and a boy, who both looked about his age, if not younger—stood back, looking at Julian like he was a wild animal.
Good. If they were scared, then they would stay away. All Julian cared about was Yadriel.
With clumsy fingers, he walked his fingers along the side of Yadriel’s neck where he had seen Miguel and Maritza feel for a pulse. At first, he couldn’t find it, and he thought Yadriel’s heart had stopped again. But then his middle finger pressed at just the right spot and he felt the beat. Julian cursed under his breath and held his hand as still as possible. He was afraid to let go and lose it again, but he also didn’t want to accidentally choke Yadriel.
Julian let out a shaky exhale and counted each and every beat of Yadriel’s heart. Focusing on that and only that.
He didn’t know how much time passed, but it seemed to stretch on forever. Panic wound its way through his rigid muscles. What was taking Miguel so long to get help? Why wasn’t he back yet? Anger roiled in his blood. His skin crawled. Julian couldn’t stand just sitting there, waiting. The only thing keeping him from running to get help himself was Yadriel.
Julian pressed his ear to Yadriel’s chest, trying to hear it beat, but it was drowned out by the sound of his own ragged breaths.
It felt like hours before he heard voices and footsteps running down the stairs and into the crypt. Julian looked up as a group of people flooded the cave. Hope tried to lift his chest, but fear dragged it back down.
He recognized Yadriel’s dad and abuelita. She gasped and stopped short when she saw the gory mess laid out. Yadriel’s dad stared, head twisting as he took everything in.
A girl a bit older than Julian rushed to Maritza, letting out an impressive string of curses in Spanish.
When Yadriel’s dad spotted his son, where he lay under Julian’s protective crouch, he rushed forward, Miguel quick on his heels.
Julian tensed. “Don’t!” he barked, so fiercely that Enrique tripped to a stop.
He looked between Julian and Yadriel, maybe weighing the pros and cons of getting his hand bitten off. He flicked Miguel a look. “Who—?”
“I don’t know,” Miguel said, watching Julian anxiously from over Enrique’s shoulder. To Julian, he asked, “Is Yadriel your friend?”
The word burned. “¡Mi querido!” he snapped viciously.
Enrique’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
Julian blushed furiously under their stares.
Enrique knelt down and tried to move closer.
“Don’t touch him!” Julian all but snarled. He tried to push them away.
“It’s okay,” Enrique said gently. Julian saw his hands trembling when he held his palms up in submission. “We’re here to help, please.” His voice was tight when he said, “He’s my son.”
“I know that!” Julian said. In an attempt to calm himself, he squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth. He knew that. He knew they were there to help, that they were his family, but Julian was so scared and angry. Just because Yadriel had forgiven them didn’t mean he did.
They could help, but Julian couldn’t get his body to understand what his brain knew. Adrenaline coursed through him, rigid and ready to fight even though he knew he didn’t need to.
He refused to move away from Yadriel’s side, but he did shift back. As soon as he made room, Enrique and Lita leaned in.
Julian bit back the urge to knock their hands away as they touched Yadriel’s cheeks, his pulse, his forehead. He was unconscious and vulnerable. Julian had to keep him safe.