Page 97 of Beautifully Wild

“That’s almost a correct assumption. Although Paulo has studied some, just not enough.”

“Can you speak to Yasmine? She wanted to experience a ceremony. I told her I wouldn’t stop her, only she couldn’t do one with Paulo.”

“Understandable, and you did the right thing for your friend. I’ll deal with Michael after you leave. You need to care for Yasmine. I’ll tell her how to prepare properly and provide a diet to follow if she wants to come back. And strictly, no alcohol. At certain times, Iquitos is busy with tourists searching for the right shaman and willing to pay extraordinary amounts of money to find direction in their life or help them with depression. I know the benefits, and now…” He runs a finger along her cheek. “May I?” He takes out his phone. “Smile.” He takes a picture. A memory of her embracing his world so he can look at it any time he wants.

“Your phone?” Her eyes round. “Can I add my details?”

“Of course.”

Eden taps in her number and address. Then she calls her phone before handing it back to Samuel.

A grin spreads across his face. “Now, do you want to share what the markings are about? Kaikare mentioned some, but I was in a rush to leave and come find you.”

Eden’s chest rises and falls as her lips part with a smile. “I understand why people pay if they get to experience what I did.”

He links his fingers with hers. “I didn’t want you to experience it without me there to help you. Kaikare said you found your spirit.”

“Maybe I allowed my walls to come down knowing you weren’t there?”

Samuel chuckles. “Ayahuasca is the vine of the souls. She has no barriers. She’ll go where she chooses. She reminds me of you,” he says, his forehead crinkling.

“Me?”

“It was a long boat ride with Asoo, and so he told me what Kaikare and you did. I’m proud of you, and I’m also upset you left me no supplies.”

“Aren’t all people your priority? You have your herbs as well. These people needed your medications and Kaikare’s help.”

He rubs his hand over hers. “Iamproud of what you both did. In fact, it shocked me a little. Have you considered studying medicine in some form?”

She squeezes his hand. “I’ve learned a lot about myself these past weeks. When I found Yasmine with a fever, I had to help her. Maybe I was a nurse in another lifetime.” She grins at him.

Without a second to lose, he leans in and kisses her. “You’d make a wonderful nurse.”

Sitting beside Eden in the tuk-tuk, he’s aware of every minute passing before her flight home. Ulara will not be the same without her, although he’ll enjoy hearing the stories of Tamu’ne Akare.

He squeezes her hand tucked securely under his. “Kaikare will miss Tamu’ne Akare.”

“And I’ll miss her. Wait.” Her eyes round. “What did you call me?”

“It’s your name.” He manages to keep a straight face.

She smiles at him warmly. “I had a name?”

He nods, holding back a smirk. “White tortoise.”

Her brow crinkles. “White I understand, but… they thought I was slow?”

“You did take a while to pick up on things.” He chuckles at the noise of surprise coming from her throat.

“All right, then what was your name?”

“I have two. Everyone is given a name at birth. One is sacred, private, and not to share. The other is what everyone knows you by. After I was initiated as a warrior, I was given a birth name. My other name is Väi Uarati Kún-imá.”

“Oh. It’s quite a mouthful.”

He chuckles.

“What does it mean?”

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