Genesis: A Soul Savers Novella Read Free Page A

move. Let me see how badly you’re hurt first.”
    “It’s just my leg,” he said, his voice rough. He pushed himself up onto an elbow, despite her protests. “And my throat. I’m so thirsty.”
    She pulled a skin of water out of her pouch and handed it to him.
    “What is your name?” she asked as she began assessing his condition.
    Sweat mixed with dirt smudged his face, but it looked otherwise unscathed, except for a small scratch on his lip and a scrape across his chin. She pushed his dark brown hair back and found a lump on his head. She removed the protective forearm braces and found bruises covering his arms, but no open wounds. His legs had been protected with braces from ankle to knee. Gingerly, she pulled his chiton up just enough to reveal a deep gash in his lower thigh.
    After draining the water skin dry, he finally answered. “Niko.”
    “You’re very lucky, Niko,” she said, pulling out another skin of water to clean the wound. Then she retrieved a bundle of cut plants from her bag and spread them on her lap. She selected the ones she needed and tore the leaves, then pressed them into the wound. The soldier sucked his breath through clenched teeth. “You seem to be the only man alive here and with barely any injuries, at that.”
    “Luck has nothing to do with it,” he said. “It’s all about skill. And I am quite skilled.”
    She looked up at his face and her herbs seemed to be already working because he managed a confident grin, causing a patch of dried mud to crack around his eye. With a spare piece of cloth soaked with water, she began cleaning his face, trying to ignore how his eyes never left hers. Each swipe of the cloth revealed more of his true appearance and by the time she reached his full lips and square chin, her hand trembled and heat crept into her face. Hiding under the grime was the most handsome man she’d ever seen.
    Her eyes dropped, skimming over his strong, warrior’s build and she blushed even harder. She was used to looking at soldiers’ bodies, assessing them for injuries, touching and prodding them. But now, for the first time, she saw more than a subject to heal. She saw someone who made her heart race and her stomach do odd little flips. And now she felt shy looking at him at all.
    “Your hair,” he said, lifting his hand. She flinched and her fingers flew to the braids on the sides of her head. His hand fell. “It’s just … I’ve never seen such a beautiful color. Like a chestnut.”
    She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. Then she hurriedly began gathering her supplies, unable to remain under his gaze any longer. What’s happening to me?
    “I’d better be going,” she mumbled.
    “Please, don’t,” Niko said, but then he sighed. “Forgive me. You probably have a husband to return to.”
    She didn’t look up at him. She couldn’t stand for her stomach to flip anymore, an absurd reaction she didn’t understand. And she couldn’t deny his words, although she didn’t have a husband. She’d always admired the love her father and mother had shared, but never thought it possible for herself. According to her brother, most girls were married off by their fathers to men they’d never met. Father had no reason or desire to do that to her, though. He believed she would find the right man for herself when the time was right, just as Mother had found him. But she’d never even met a man properly—only those injured and dying on the battlefield, not exactly the appropriate time and place for romantic thoughts. So how could she possibly be having them now?
    Niko’s assumption made sense, though. She appeared to be the age of a young wife who should be bearing children, but she was actually much, much older. Her explanation for not being married yet would make no sense to this stranger.
    “Those herbs will heal the cut,” she said, evading his comment. “You’ll be fine by morning.”
    He sat up all the way and she sucked in a breath. Maybe not. A