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“I have no idea, but I suspect all night. Salvador said he radioed the helicopter pilot using the satellite phone. The pilot will return home and await our instructions for his return. He also called Lilith to let her and the rest of the camp know we found you and would be bringing you home soon. They were elated to hear you’re alive.”

“Great. Will they resume the vaccine trials?”

“I don’t know, but I hope so.”

“We’ll have to convince them if they’re wavering. But I suspect this delay means I have to spend another night on the ground.”

He slipped a finger under my chin and nudged it up. “Don’t complain. It’s our wedding night, after all.”

“Hey, if you’re here, I’mnotcomplaining. Trust me on that.” I slid my hand to the back of his neck and kissed him again, not caring who was watching.

A young girl holding a bowl approached us shyly. Inside the bowl was a sweet-smelling oil. I glanced over at the other bound couples and saw they were spreading the oil on each other.

“Well, this is going to be awkward,” I said, accepting the bowl from her.

Slash watched the girl go, a puzzled look on his face. “Is that your bra?”

“Not anymore. Now, it’s a quiver that holds invisible arrows. Don’t ask me where my underwear is.”

He chuckled, and we spent the next little while smoothing oil on to each other, which made us super slippery. Even though I hadn’t let Slash put any on my bottom or private areas, just sitting was dangerous because I felt like I could slide off any moment. At some point, another young girl brought us jewelry. Slash had a feathered necklace placed around his neck, and I got a beaded crown.

Vicente and Salvador joined us. They looked like they were having a great time.

“I have to thank you, Lexi,” Vicente said. “This has been one of the most fascinating cultural experiences of my life. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that their language is so close to the others in the area. But it’s been an incredible experience to confirm that and for me to learn more about the Okampa tribe.”

“I agree,” Salvador said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Although, I’m not sure they would have been so welcoming if we weren’t friends of a descendant of a legendary race of women warriors.”

“Not that I had anything to do with this, but you’re welcome, I guess.”

The chief returned to the stone circle and made an announcement. The other newly bound couples rose, and Vicente instructed us to do the same.

“You’re now going to complete the ritual,” he told us. “Hold hands and, along with the other couples, you’re to go seven times clockwise around the sacred bonfire.”

“Well, this doesn’t seem so bad,” I said as Slash and I fell in line and starting walking.

The villagers joined us on the seventh round. When we were done, the shaman poured water on each of our open palms before he waved a smoking stick over each of us to cleanse and heal us. Then we were led to the bathing pool where each couple cast one stone together into the pool.

“The stone creates ripples when you throw it in,” Vicente explained. “The ripples are life. The solid stone represents your love and how you will stay together for all of eternity while life ebbs and flows around you.”

“That’s incredibly meaningful,” I said softly.

Slash pressed a kiss against my hair. “It really is.”

After that, the men started doing a dance, which Vicente explained was some kind of fighting dance. One of the men motioned for Slash to join in.

“You’re going to do it?” I asked when he stood up.

“I’m going to try.”

He joined the other warriors and began imitating their motions and steps. Given his long dark hair and Mediterranean complexion he might have blended in perfectly if it hadn’t been for his boxer shorts. He missed some steps and started laughing. Astonished, I realized he was having a good time...and in some strange way, so was I.

While we were watching the men, the women started bringing out the food. Plates heavy with fruits, vegetables, meats and fish were passed around. Slash returned to my side and plucked a piece of fish from my tray.

“I didn’t know you could dance like that,” I said, eating a piece of the fish.

“Like what?”

“You know, following the steps and all. You did great.”