When Firo left me flustered and breathless by the diner, my friends immediately approached me and guided me to my seat as I was unable to walk straight after receiving such a powerful kiss. Then, my friends demanded to know how I had caught the attention of one of the five most handsome eligible bachelors. I couldn't answer at first, as my heart was still racing from the kiss. When I finally managed to speak, I told them about Juniper cornering me in the dance room, stealing a crown made by the birds and butterflies themselves,and insulting me by calling me a maid, among other things. My friends looked furious; Rena was ready to find her and turn her into a toad for mistreating me, and she could have done it easily, as it was in her blood from her father's side. Rena told us her great-grandmother was a Wiccan and not afraid of getting into trouble for helping me. It didn't seem right, and I told them they didn't need to do anything because the Dragon Prince had already helped me.

My friends then asked how he had helped me. I explained that he had retrieved my crown from my cousin and insulted her as she had insulted me. I told them how Firo had called her a 'petulant, snobbish child,' which made them laugh, and they were eager to hear more. So, I shared the entire story with them. My friend ordered food, and we all had a good laugh at my cousin's expense. Then, they inquired about my other potential suitors. I mentioned that I had seen them around me a couple of times, and whenever they caught me looking, they winked before vanishing. I confessed to my friends that I was doomed because I was starting to develop feelings for more than one guy. They wanted more details, so I described how each time I needed help, even with small things, one of them was there to assist me. For instance, I couldn't manifest a flower, but the fae prince advised me to imagine my magic as roots, push the image of the flower into the roots, and then place my hand on the ground so the magical roots could plant themselves. Following his guidance, I managed to make hundreds of red, pink, and white flowers appear. I recounted how the merman aided my swimming lessons, telling me to let the water guide me as it was alive, and upon his advice, I managed to swim. I also spoke of how the incubus prince helped me channel my darker magic into something pure, and how the blood prince met me at the hybrid meeting and helped me gain control of my new hybrid magic.

My best friends listened eagerly and swooned at the right moments as I recounted my story and experiences. When I finished, I sighed and asked them just how doomed I was. They let out girlish giggles and chorused that I was indeed very doomed, and that my suitors were struck with a potent love bug. I groaned, and amidst their giggles, they assured me I could get through all of them before the school semester ended. In mock frustration, I threw a piece of bread at Rena, who was thoroughly enjoying my lovelorn dilemma, and I longed to hug Andromeda for her slight show of sympathy. She nudged Rena on my behalf, who then reminded me of her words on my first day here. She had said that supernatural men don't court girls just for fun and then discard them. She reiterated that if these boys were courting me, then I should go out, have fun, and give each of them a chance to win my heart and potentially secure their place as my boyfriend. Pondering her words, I asked them if they thought I should let the boys make the decision for me to date one of them. But Andromeda suggested, "Or all of them," explaining that in a group as close-knit as theirs, I could be looking at polyamorous relationships.

I groaned again and then asked how I could possibly be with more than one guy, expressing my frustration. My friends explained that in magical realms, polyamorous relationships are common and not frowned upon as they are in the mortal realm, due to the insatiable intimacy of supernaturals. and how they would need more then one partner to allivate there insatiable  sexual appetites and when i listened my cheeks heated  and it reminded my friends that i was still untouched in the sexual department so then andromeda suggested that i find the least intimidating prince of the five and have him ease me into the world of free willed  and consentual sex when i would have a choice  in how i like to be intimate for the first time  without the others to overwhelm me.

To be honest, Andromeda made a valid point, and her idea was quite good, but I still hesitated to approach the 'forbidden five'. I feared that if I asked them to guide me through intimacy, they would just see me as another girl. Worse, if they had different thoughts about me—not romantically—and it turned out to be my own misinterpretation of their feelings, how could I face that? The thought of them laughing or getting the wrong impression terrified me. Oh God, I couldn't do that, never. I couldn't open up like that; they might also think I was promiscuous, like the guys back in the mortal realm who thought I was easy, believing they could sway me with sweet words and I would just surrender myself to them. No, I couldn't; I needed serious help, and I knew exactly where to get it—back home, asking my mom. Oh gods, how had my life reached this point where I needed to ask my mother for advice on my sex life? I just hoped I wouldn't regret asking her and that my father would be out for the day, or I could never bring myself to ask her about this."

That afternoon, I mounted my throrse and informed my friend that I would be heading home to discuss a dilemma with my mother. My friends acknowledged my courage, admitting they could never broach such a topic with their own mothers. I confided in them my need for guidance and my belief in my mother's support. However, I also shared my fear of my father and uncle being present, praying to any gods that might listen for their absence, lest they overhear this private matter with their seemingly supernatural hearing. My friends, shining like stars, declared they would accompany me, seeking advice on intimacy as well. Rena was too embarrassed to approach her mother, and Andromeda, despite her disdain for her mother, cherished her father and his new wife but still hesitated to inquire about such matters with her stepmother. I urged them to follow me and brace themselves, for my throrse was swift.