I had been eager to complete my lessons and go to my fated mate. When the lesson finished, I used my fae gifts to locate her, and that's when I saw her in a long black dress with one sleeve and bare-shouldered on the other. I composed myself and approached her. It was hard not to grab her and kiss her in front of all my fae subjects, but as she stood there, looking like a dream, I noticed how my subjects and the nymphs all shyly glanced at her. I could see the questions in their gazes about who she was and why she stood by the trees. When they sensed me, they all bowed and backed away, giving me and my fated privacy. When I was near her, my fated looked up at me with her icy blue eyes and a stunning smile on her red lips.

Mindful of my manners, I bowed to her and offered my arm, creating a loop for my mate to hook hers through. I took her bag and guided her through the trees, ensuring she stayed by my side, as navigating the woods without a fae guide often led to people getting lost. I inquired about her day, and as she spoke, I found joy in how she described her classes, her love for each one, barring a few, and how the demeanor of some teachers upset her. As a prince, I had the power to dismiss teachers who caused her discomfort, but I refrained, not wanting my mate to see me as an overly privileged royal. I aimed to show her the real me, unobstructed by my title and background.

When my mate finished describing her day, she inquired about mine. I shared with her how the lessons of being a prince can often be dull and sometimes nonsensical, but I find solace in combat class where I can work off stress. I admitted that while the prospect of being the next king may sound exciting, it's not always so, and the responsibilities can be overwhelming. My fated mate wondered if any of my siblings could take over to spare me from the role. I laughed and mentioned my older brother, who was meant to be king but lacked a fated mate, a requirement for our royals who need a queen to demonstrate the nurturing aspect of our fae lineage. My mate seemed pensive before asking if dating one or all of us would obligate her to become queen to everyone's kingdom.

I smiled sadly and told her that it would happen. My mate began to say how she would be a terrible queen and that no kingdom would thrive under her rule. I assured her that would never happen, as she was a natural-born queen with a regal air about her, and our kingdoms would be fortunate to have her. I explained that many try to rule without experience and often fail, but it doesn't mean it's impossible. My fated mate smiled, and I showed her two trees embracing, explaining that our dorms were through here. She asked how she could enter the fae dorms. I smiled, pulled her closer, and said that I would be her key. She gasped as we entered, and I held Malaya in my arms as i crossed into the portal  to my dorm I noticed Malaya's eyes turn icier, her hair frosty white with blue streaks, her ears pointed, her skin pale and porcelain-like, her lips red as blood, and her cheeks flushed. Her beautiful wings, resembling those of a dragonfly, glistened like snow and ice in the light. Upon entering the fae domain, I set my mate down, and as her feet touched the ground, her black heels transformed into glass slippers, and her long black dress into a sparkling icy blue gown.

Malaya was breathtakingly beautiful; her very presence screamed 'Queen.' As if her arrival in the fae domain had sent out a beacon, all the fae and nymphs emerged from their dorms and bowed before her. As she acknowledged them, a crown of ice, snow, and frost formed upon her head, and her hand wielded a scepter of ice topped with a crown. Her eyes flashed, turning ice blue, and as she gazed down at what were now her royal subjects, I saw those eyes soften from a cold, steely look to one resembling soft, fallen snow. Many of my subjects kissed her dainty feet and returned to their rooms. When everyone had left, I escorted her to my room, but upon entering, I was shocked to find the fae girl my family had chosen as my betrothed. I turned to face Malaya, who entered with her regal stature and stood above Marigold, anger evident in her eyes, and she said...

"WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT IS IT YOUR DOING IN THE ROOM OF MY PRINCE"

Malaya's voice deepened with each word. I quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her into my embrace, which soothed her, and I felt the anger vanish. Once she was calm, I confronted Marigold and asked why she was here, given that our betrothal had been annulled since I had found my fated mate. Marigold pleaded for my forgiveness and Malaya's, explaining that she was forced to come here at the behest of her parents and mine, so that we could reconcile and marry posthaste. She recounted how her family had intimidated her boyfriend into leaving and demanded they break up, as Marigold could never belong to anyone but me. Anger surged through me, and I wanted to confront my parents, but before I could speak, Malaya began to glow, and within seconds, her Throrse appeared. Malaya mounted her steed, pulling me and Marigold to join her, then demanded we take her to my family home in Faeropier. Without a second thought, I opened the portal and entered my homeland. Malaya removed the pin holding up her hair, letting her frosty-colored locks cascade down her back, and I anticipated my parents' reaction to discovering how beautiful my mate was.

We flew for a while until we reached my family's castle. As we descended, I spotted my brother Darien in the garden, surrounded by beautiful female fae from his harem. Upon seeing me on the throrse, he dismissed the girls and approached to embrace me, inquiring about my return home. I then recounted my encounter with Marigold in my dorm room, how she revealed that our parents had forced her to break up with her boyfriend and declared her taken, sending her to win my affections for an immediate marriage. Darien, angered on my behalf, inquired about my mate's whereabouts. I informed him she was en route and that she was a hybrid named Malaya. He hissed and cursed, predicting our parents' disapproval. He pledged his support, and as Malaya arrived, her beauty brought Darien to his knees, his eyes shifting colors to match Malaya's. His next words took me by surprise.

"o, boginia nad takava krasota a the moyata krasiva gazella moyata polovinka(Oh goddess above, such beauty she possesses, my beautiful gazelle, my mate).

My mouth dropped open upon hearing this, and I began to wonder why the prophecy hadn't mentioned a sixth mate for Malaya. Now that he had acknowledged her, what would that mean for the five original suitors? I had no idea, but I knew I loved my brother and would accept him into the circle. However, I needed to claim Malaya's lips before he could. Without a second thought, I grabbed her chin and placed a fervent kiss on her lips, growling that she was mine. Then Darien pushed me aside to claim her lips as well, calling her his 'delicious gazelle' in Bulgarian. I saw Malaya's twinkling eyes and sly smile, as if she understood our language in this form, something she hadn't been able to do in her other form.