Page 94 of Beautifully Wild

Yasmine slaps his hand away. “What message?”

“He told me to tell Eden and Samuel to come as you were putting yourself in danger being here with Paulo,” Amy states.

Yasmine glares at Michael. “Danger? You recommended him.”

“Babe. You chose him. You were adamant. I know you’ve been high for days, but this was your decision.”

“We’re taking you back to Iquitos,” I tell her. “I know you want to do this but not here and not today. You’re sick, and you need to get well first. You have to cleanse and be healthy. In your condition, it could be dangerous to take the brew.”

Her eyes widen.

“Quite knowledgeable, Eden. Just where is Samuel?” Michael asks in a low, deep voice.

“He had an exploration. I know you understand his commitment to his work, and besides, I haven’t seen him in almost three weeks.”

“Where did you stay while he’s away?” He stalks closer to me.

“In Canaima. I told Amy where I was.”

“I’ve been to Canaima. These markings aren’t from there,” he says, holding my chin and turning my face.

I push his hand off me. “I went to help in a Pemón village. The doctor needed some extra hands, and most of the volunteers had left.”

He raises a single brow. “Right. Nice try.”

We both turn when Yasmine groans and Amy wraps a hand around her back.

“I can’t believe you kept her here in this condition?” I gasp. Right now, I wish I had some medical knowledge. I wish Samuel were here.

He crosses his arms and juts out his chin. “She refused to leave. It’s why I sent for you.” I push past him and assist Amy with Yasmine. “She’s still high. Give her some time for the drugs to wear off.”

“What drugs?” Amy yells at him.

“It doesn’t matter. We’re leaving now,” I tell them both. “There’s a driver waiting for us.”

“Eden, but I want to—”

“Not here and not today,” I repeat. “Michael, you need to help us get Yasmine down the ladder.”

I make my way down onto the muddy ground and take Yasmine’s arm to balance her landing.

“What’s going on here?” I swing around to a man with straggly blond hair falling around his shoulders.

“We’re taking our friend,” I tell him. “And don’t worry, she doesn’t want a refund. Keep the money, only there’ll be no ceremony.”

He looks at Yasmine. “Is this what you want?” he says in an American accent.

“You know what I wanted. Now my friends are here, and I’m not well, so—”

“I have stuff that will help you get better. You have to talk to me, girl. I can’t fix what I don’t know.”

“If…” I say in a stern voice, “… you’re the shaman you claim to be, you could heal without instruction. You would simply know as the forest would talk to you.” I slip Yasmine’s arm over my shoulder and take a step past Paulo, ignoring his glare.

“You and I need to chat,” Michael whispers.

“We do,” I say but not in the same context.

We arrive at the small village, and a tuk-tuk takes us to the missionary’s office as we’ve missed the boat back to Iquitos. It’s a silent ride because I’m too angry at Michael to calmly discuss anything and equally worried about Yasmine.

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