Asiri and the Amaru (Pisqu Sweet and Sour, #1)

by Natalia Hernandez

It could all turn into quite a mess if one wasn’t careful. Luckily, Asiri was very, very good at her job. It was a wonder that Casa de Murmuros was allowing her to leave their service; Creature Communing was so rare an ability. And Asiri was the most gifted Communer of their age.

But some questions were just too big, too important to be answered in this realm alone. Some needed the connection to all three realms, and the whispered warnings of the universe itself, which could only come with pure alignment.

Asiri did find it rather inconvenient that in order to hear the messages within the center of the universe she had to die each time, but as it was unavoidable, she had grown quite used to it.

“I won’t stand for this, you know! It is one thing to kidnap me from my home, it is another to make me witness pathetic attempts at human mating rituals! Cease your flirtations and put me down!”

What he had not expected that day was to run into the most beautiful woman that he had ever seen in his life.

“You sure you aren’t thinking about a new, dark-haired beauty who works with Doña Iris?” Tamya teased. Dario’s mouth dropped open. “How did you—” Tamya laughed. “It’s a small town. People saw you talking to her at Mama Qucha’s Cocina. Apparently, you were very close.” She waggled her eyebrows at him. “There’s nothing going on there,” Dario said quickly. “But you would like there to be?” she prodded. Dario shot her an exasperated look, but she continued to regard him expectantly. “But I would like there to be,” he finally sighed. “I knew it!” Tamya screeched, thumping him hard on the back. Dario lurched forward with the force of it, and Pepe let out an indignant squeak at the motion.

“I bet I can guess your secret, though,” Paloma said cheekily. “Does it have something to do with a certain animal healer?” Asiri gasped. How much did Paloma know? “I knew it!” Paloma cried out. “You like him, don’t you! Don’t deny it, you should see how much you’re blushing right now!” Asiri was blushing, she could feel the warmth in her cheeks and neck. “I suppose he is rather handsome,” she admitted.

“You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,”

“Dario, I left my home and the only family I had ever known because I didn’t want my path planned for me. I didn’t want to live based on how other people expected me to live. I wanted to make my own decisions, and be my own person.”

Dario shook his head, tilting her chin back to look at him. “Don’t be sorry. This is who you are. Your gift is incredible, just like you. I was worried, but also amazed. I am in awe of you, Asiri.”