hair tickled his face. She smelled just the same, like cloves and cinnamon.
She pushed her fingers through his hair. “Mijito,” she said softly, kissing the top of his head, and Yadriel melted into her. Relief and longing broke inside him. He loved her so fiercely and wanted to tell her so, over and over again, but he couldn’t find his voice.
“Let me see you!” she said, taking a step back to look him up and down. “Aye, such a handsome boy, my son!” his mother declared, red lips curling.
Her eyes traveled over Yadriel’s shoulder. “And this must be Julian?” she asked, lips quirking into a knowing smile.
Yadriel stepped aside and tugged on Julian’s arm. He stumbled forward. “Hi, Mrs. Velez,” he said, all nervous energy and bashful smile.
“Camila,” she corrected warmly. She crossed one arm over her chest, tucked under her elbow as she tapped thoughtfully at her chin. “I have heard much about you. A ghost boy who came back from the dead, thanks to my Yadriel.”
She squeezed Yadriel’s arm, and he swelled with pride.
“I owe him big-time,” Julian said with a grin.
“And don’t forget it,” Camila agreed with a smile and a wink. “Now, we have much to catch up on, and much to discuss!” She gave Yadriel a pointed look. “So let’s make the most of our time together.”
She raised a delicate eyebrow at Yadriel. “And tell me everything,” Camila added in a stage whisper, nodding in Julian’s direction.
Julian preened.
“Mom!” Yadriel hissed.
“But first,” she went on, as if she hadn’t heard him, taking a step back and waving toward the front of the church.
Yadriel’s dad and Lita stood on the raised altar, just below Lady Death’s alcove. Enrique and Lita were in full regalia. They wore the sacred royal headdresses that had been passed down through the brujx leaders for centuries.
Before them stood the three brujx who had turned fifteen since the last Día de Muertos. Maritza was there in her dress. She looked back over her shoulder and waved at Yadriel frantically. Hurry up! She mouthed.
This was it. Yadriel turned to Julian.
“Get ’em, brujo,” he said, nudging him with his shoulder.
Yadriel took a deep breath and shook out his tingling fingers. He stepped forward and fell into line next to Maritza, probably a bit closer than necessary.
Maritza cleared her throat and nodded with her chin. Her rose-quartz rosary was pooled in her cupped hands. Down the line, the other brujx held out their portajes.
Yadriel quickly reached back for his dagger. It slipped through his sweaty fingers. He nearly dropped it, but he scrambled to recover without losing a finger in the process. He laid it across his upturned palms, and Maritza nodded approvingly.
His dad’s chuckles made Yadriel look up.
When his dad stepped forward and held his hands aloft, the voices and laughter died down to a quiet hum. The press of the crowd behind Yadriel’s back was odd and uncomfortable. He could feel everyone’s focus directed his way.
Unable to help himself, Yadriel snuck a glance back over his shoulder. His mom gave him an encouraging smile while Julian flashed him a double thumbs-up, grinning ear to ear.
“It is an honor to have you all here on the last day of Día de Muertos as we welcome our children into their new positions within our community!” his dad said, looking out across the crowd. “Thank you for joining us and the incredible young adults who stand before you.” He stood tall, his voice booming through the cavernous church.
Yadriel was used to seeing his dad in his checkered shirts with tousled hair and tired eyes, working in the cemetery or dozing off on the couch. But tonight, dressed in his regalia, standing tall as he smiled and spoke with authority, Enrique looked like the rightful leader of the brujx.
“Let us also take a moment to thank Lady Death for allowing all of us to be here together to celebrate you tonight,” his dad said as a quiet murmur passed through the crowd. “We keep you in our thoughts, every day, until we can be together again on Día de Muertos.”
Yadriel looked up to where Lady Death stood in her alcove, draped in white. He thought of how she had looked when she appeared before him in the cave. Both beautiful and terrifying.
“Tonight our children join a long line of brujx who have served Our Lady in healing those who suffer and guiding those who are lost,” his father continued, gesturing to the four of them. Yadriel did his