Chapter 1: A Body Has Been Discovered!
Mirana and I stared at the man in front of us. He was magnificent, so big and I mean the good kind of big with broad shoulders and well-defined muscles. This was a plus for him, since he was lying faceup on the forest floor without a scrap of clothing.
The only thing covering his tawny skin was the blood on his head and shoulders. My eyes danced down his torso and back up to his face where he had just enough of a beard to look manly without trekking into man-bear territory.
After my eyes did this little number a few times, I decided that maybe I should tune back into Mirana's monologue. She was saying in a prim voice, "It's not our responsibility to protect sun people from themselves. No matter what qualities they might possess."
I looked over at the palm-size moon fae hovering next to me. Her pale face was scrunched up in a frown with her antenna squeezed together and her lotus pink wings fluttering in irritation.
"Don't look at me that way, Marci," she said in that lecturing voice of hers. "You can't possibly know he would come to our aid if the tables were turned."
Really?
I raised a judgmental eyebrow.
I could not believe that she was actually trying to convince me that this guy wasn't the type of person to help a fair maiden and an invisible fae in duress. He had basically done so earlier. First, he bought me a drink from that rude barkeep, and then he saved our fae informant.
"Fine," Mirana snapped. Her wings gave an extra flap and she rose a few inches. "Perhaps he would help us, but that would merely make him a fool. We are better than that, or at least I am and you should be."
I didn't respond to that slight. I simply took off my cloak.
"Marci!" Mirana said, zipping between me and him. "Don't do—"
But I had already knelt down and used my cloak to cover him.
"—that!" she finished. "Marci, your sacred robe," she moaned, "It was not meant to be used on a dirty bloody vagabond."
I shrugged. It was more important that this man live than I keep my special cloak clean. On that front, I checked him for injuries. He was covered in blood and scars, but he didn't seem to have any open wounds. I placed my hand on his cheek, meaning to turn his head, but got distracted by the stumble on his face. It was rough. My thumb grazed the bare skin above his scruff, which by contrast was quite soft and warm. It was nothing like Selemene's skin. The moon goddess was always cool to the touch.
I felt a jab at my back.
"Stop groping him!" Mirana said.
I put my other hand to my chest.
Me! Grope an innocent injured tanned muscled sexy person with tantalizing scars and a mole right where…
"Marci!"
I huffed. Fine.
I made to remove my 'groping' hand off of his cheek, but suddenly I couldn't. His hand was on mine, keeping it from moving.
Our gazes locked.
My heart thudded in my chest and I felt my cheeks grow warm.
He was awake.
"Hey," he said. He gave me a lopsided smile. "What's going on?"
That was a complicated question.
"You tell me!" Mirana's voice snapped and I knew he'd think I had said it instead. There was currently a glamour spell on me that made it look like my mouth moved whenever Mirana spoke. The words that Mirana put into my mouth were even more of a mood killer than what she'd said last night. She pointed out, "You're naked, bloody, and alone in the middle of the forest."
He blinked, his smile disappearing. Then his hand left mine to touch his chest. When his hand met bare skin, panic entered his features and he sat up.
The sudden movement caused me to fall back on my butt.
"Watch it!" Mirana chided.
"My fang!" he said, sounding desperate, "I had a necklace. Where is it?"
A necklace? I suppose it must have been valuable.
He was standing up now and looking around frantically. "My dragon fang necklace. Have you seen it?"
No, but I did see my cloak fall off him. He was completely naked again and from this angle…even I had to blush and look away. Despite all of Mirana's snide remarks implying otherwise, I'd never been with a man before. And he was…wow.
Above me, Mirana said, "Stop moving around and cover yourself."
Instead of obeying, he held his head with both hands. "Seriously what is going on?"
Poor man. I took that as my cue to stand up. Maybe he had some injuries that I had missed. I held my cloak out where he could see it.
He took it with shaking hands. "Thanks um..." he squinted at me and I could tell he was trying hard to put the pieces together. "We met earlier, right?"
I nodded, thankful that Mirana was being silent for a bit. I could practically hear her irritation though.
He finished tying the cloak around himself with two tugs and then he put a hand on my shoulder. "Please…" he began.
"No more touching!" the moon fae snapped, zipping forward and shoving him back.
Because he was still weak as a kitten, the man fell and was unconscious before he even hit the ground.
I turned and glared at Mirana.
"He was being forward," she said stoutly.
And now he's unconscious. Again! I gestured at the body with a look of consternation on my face.
"Yes, well," Mirana coughed and looked away. "You know, I am only trying to look out for your wellbeing and modesty, High Priestess."
My shoulders sagged. Yes. I knew that was all it was.
"So, let's go," Mirana said, turning back to me. "I am certain he will be fine on his—what are you doing?"
I had knelt down again and was lifting the man onto my back.
"Marci!" Mirana said. "Put him down."
I ignored her and got up with his warm body hanging from my shoulders.
"At least, let Sagan do it!" she pressed.
I started walking into the forest.
"By the dark moon, Marci. It is because of your soft heart and softer head that we are out here in the first place," Mirana complained loudly.
My only response was to walk faster.
It had been a long few days for both of us and Mirana had been ready to explode for the last two. I couldn't even blame her because she was right. This was all my fault.
4 days ago…
I had just finished talking with Selemene. It was always a strange experience, talking with words, but I loved sharing things with my goddess. The only true issue was never getting enough time with her. However, on that night, we had lain together for hours.
It had been magical. It was always magical, even when the goddess didn't want a word out of me. Just being in her presence was intoxicating. Plus, one of the many perks of being High Priestess to the Moon Goddess was that I was always ready to provide, always ready to give.
Always.
However, once Selemene left, I felt exhausted. It was close to an hour before dawn and the only thing I was ready for now was bed. I stumbled out of the goddess's temple and did my best to walk in a straight line. I barely noticed the woman praying by the commune's sacred lotus pond until I was right upon her.
"Excuse me," she said softly as I bumped into her.
I backed up and waved off her apology. It was I who was at fault after all. However, when I looked her in the eye to try and explain, my heart stutter-stopped.
I was the High Priestess, partnered to a goddess who was anywhere from 8 to 9 feet tall and impossibly alluring, but this woman was still a sight to behold: 6 feet tall with curves in all the right places, dark hair, wide innocent blue eyes, and lips made for kissing.
I swallowed.
Hard.
"High Priestess," the stunning woman spoke in a voice that did not belong in a holy place. "Please, do forgive me."
I shook my head. She had nothing to forgive. The only slight in my mind was the fact that I didn't recognize her. Luna had been recruiting so many recently. It was hard to keep track of all the new faces and obviously, I'd been doing a bad job if this beauty had slipped through the cracks.
The woman smiled. I was sure I was imagining the inviting look in her eyes. "You look tired," she told me.
She was right. I was tired. Even with this stimulus in front of me, my bed was calling to me.
I gave her a wane smile. She was so observant.
"I'm sure you'll feel better after a good rest," she prompted.
And she was kind and sensible. Luna had chosen well.
However, I did not follow the woman's sound advice, partially because I was tired to move and partially because I hadn't gotten her name yet.
She glanced at the pond and back at me. Then, she licked her full rosy lips, before asking, "Do you require assistance, High Priestess?"
Yes. Yes, please. Assistance, her name, and…
She stepped closer. "Let me help you," she murmured.
She put her hand on my shoulder and then…
Nothing.
I remembered nothing else. She had done something to me and, despite my many blessings, I had been knocked out just like that.
By the time, I woke up all the lotuses and moon fae had been stolen, except for Mirana who had been chosen to serve me that night. And now both she and I were stuck in this mess all because I lost my head over a pretty face.
A/N: Hi there,
I hope you enjoyed the show. The DOTA: Dragon's Blood fanfiction selection is pretty small and there is like no Marci here on this site. This is a crime. This fic is for our best girl Marci, her fans, and my friend, march4fun.
Please let me know if you liked this. I recommend following this fic because it'll be a while before it gets another chapter and I don't want you to miss it. I published this first chapter today because season 2 came out, but I have too many active fics right now. Unless this fic becomes wildly popular and I am awash with reviews, I don't see myself publishing another chapter of this until Crimson Tiger, Of Rats and Royal, or Rajah's Curse is done.
With that major hint given, I will leave you.
See you when I see you, folks.
Bye!
