Extraits

“Why do you have to prove anything to anyone?"

"It's just how it is, how it's always been. In order for them to let me be a brujo—"

"You don't need anyone's permission to be you, Yads”

“Queer folks are like wolves," Julian told him. "We travel in packs."

« Je commençais à penser que tu m’avais posé un lapin», dit-il.

Il plissa les paupières pour examiner Yadriel, un sourire malicieux lui étirant le coin des lèvres. La chaude clarté souligna ses fossettes. « Lequel de nous deux est Cendrillon, dans ce scénario?»

Yadriel avait la bouche sèche, ce qui lui rendait difficile de parler. « Je suis la marraine fée, réussit-il à croasser. Je crois que ça fait de toi la citrouille. »

- Je vais pas te laisser m'abandonner dans une église hantée...

- Elle est pas hantée !

-Si je suis ici et que je suis un fantôme, alors elle est hanée ! Riposta Julian.

“There's no way y'all have been around for thousands of years without there being one person not fitting into the 'men are this, women are that' bullshit." Julian sounded so convinced, so sure. His obsidian eyes locked onto Yadriel's. "Maybe they hid it, or ran away, or I dunno, something else, but there's no way you're the first, Yads.”

*Fais pas ça*, se dit-il. La seule idiotie plus grande que d'agir en cachette de sa famille, d'invoquer des esprits et d'essayer d'élucider une série de crimes serait de tomber amoureux d'un garçon mort.

En particulier s'il s'agissait de Julian Diaz.

Dès qu'il aperçut Yadriel, son sourire éclatant lui creusa des fossettes sur les joues.

L'estomac de Yadriel exécuta une petite cabriole qui ne lui plut pas *du tout*.

Yadriel glanced between him and the photo. “She’s pretty,” he said, without really knowing why. He shifted. “She your girlfriend or something?” he asked in his best casual tone. Julian snorted. “No.” He leaned back, propping himself up on his elbows. “I don’t do girlfriends.” Yadriel rolled his eyes and scoffed. “What? Because you’re some kind of mujeriego, or something? Too many ladies to pick just one?” he ask with a flare of annoyance.

“No.” Julian’s tone was cross, eyes still on the page. “Because I’m gay, asshole.” Yadriel blinked. He … hadn’t expected that. He stared at Julian. “Oh.” His mind raced to place this new information with the boy sitting next to him. Julian glanced up. “That a problem?” he asked with a hard stare and a cocked eyebrow. “Uh—no, no, that’s not a problem.” Heat bloomed in Yadriel’s cheeks.

Yadriel rolled his eyes and turned. “Donatello, Michelangelo!” he called. Immediately, their jowls dropped, tongues happily lolling. “Like the Ninja Turtles?” Julian asked, still hovering at a safe distance. “No,” Maritza snapped, shooting him a glare. “Like the Italian Renaissance artists, pendejo.” She stumbled as they both surged for Yadriel. Julian held up his palms. “Yikes, my bad.” “Like I’d name my beautiful dogs after some dumb cartoon turtles,” Maritza groused.

“Why do you have to prove anything to anyone?” Yadriel shifted uncomfortably. “It’s just how it is, how it’s always been. In order for them to let me be a brujo—” “You don’t need anyone’s permission to be you, Yads,” he cut in, frustration starting to edge his voice again. And Yadriel was getting irritated himself. “Because—” “I mean, you summoned me, so you have the brujo powers, right?” he went on. He picked up the balled-up paper again and fiddled with it absentmindedly. “Like, is this Lady deciding who counts as a man and who counts as a woman? What about nonbinary people? Or intersex? Or agender?” Yadriel was surprised Julian even knew what those words meant.