(Amaia)

"You did what?" I ask, flabbergasted, lowering my arms and grabbing his bicep. The silvery streaks of his gently caress my hand, coiling around it with a tender touch.

"You protected me, Amaia. You protected my brothers. I can never forget that. That has indebted me to you–forever."

Alnilam is the emotional kind. I realise that, but at the same time, he buries his feelings. The innate desire to act tough and protect everyone else at the expense of his own happiness is deeply rooted in him being the eldest son.

That’s exactly what this man is going to do. Whatever feelings have started to germinate inside him, he is going to nip them in the bud.

"So tell me the truth. What happened? I heard Alnitak talking about some prophecy."

A surprise passes over his face, but he masks it rather quickly. Closing his eyes for a second, Alnilam focuses them back on me.

"I didn’t want this to be revealed to you yet but...we heard something—someone, I am not sure. But we are to be your guides and protectors. All five of us. Three of your mates, Saiph and me."

Stupidly, I blink at him. A tremble runs through my body. Did they have a prophecy about me?

"What?"

Lifting his hands he finally places them on my shaking shoulders.

"Amaia, I know we had our differences. I made assumptions about you that I will clarify after conducting a further investigation. This time I will be thorough."

My chest heaves, and my face twists with a cyclone of emotions going through me. My eyes prick as tears try to accumulate in them.

"So you finally believe me." I try to speak clearly keeping my voice from breaking.

"I do and everyone who lied about you and hurt you will pay. I will ensure that." He squeezes my shoulders.

The recent events seem to have softened Alnilam towards me, and whatever prophecy they heard turned the tables fully.

Slowly, I smile and my heart eases. Alnilam is the one who found me and brought me here. He is the first one of my mates and yet he is still the most distant one. Having him say these words is such a huge step in our relationship.

Unable to control the unfiltered emotions, I lean in and wrap my arms around his torso, hugging him. My cheek comes to rest on his rapidly beating heart and naked chest.

Such relief and warmth fill me when hugging this stubborn male. It soothes the part of my heart that always remains agitated because I can’t have him.

I expect him to push me away. His body tenses under my touch from the suddenness of my hug. But that push never comes.

Then I feel him relax and unexpectedly, his arms come around my body as he hugs me too.

Alnilam is embracing me.

Am I dreaming?

This ice block, who always hides every emotion and acts so righteous, keeps a distance because I am his student.

It must be hard for him to look past his morals and cross this boundary with me.

"Thank you for protecting me," I murmur, soaking in that scent of old books that always brings nostalgia for reasons unknown to me.

Not only him but even his silken strands wrap themselves around me.

"I will always be by your side. Helping you, guiding you to reach your full potential. You’re destined for something great, I have felt that from the moment I knew you were a Fae."

Tears brim in my eyes, but I don’t shed them, trying to hold them in.

Slowly, his hands climb to my shoulders, and he gently pushes me away, holding me at arm’s length.

"You can come to me whenever and without fear."

I raise my head and gaze at him, giving him a small nod.

"Come now, I should see you to your dorm. You need to rest."

Disappointment covers me like a thin sheet but I push it away.

Leaving my shoulders, he grabs his shirt and puts it on, hiding his gorgeous body from me.

Picking up my pendant he places it around my neck, masking my appearance.

Alnilam opens the door so we can exit his room but we stop in our tracks. A stunned Jamina is standing there with her hand raised and fisted as if about to knock. Wearing a red silken nightgown, she is a wet dream for any male.

My heart drowns. I can’t go on with another painful session.

Her confused eyes waver from Alnilam to me and back to Alnilam, holding questions.

Alnilam goes rigid beside me while I bunch my lips.

"...umm," Jamina tries to speak.

"Well, being mated to three wild males who hate each other is not easy. They all are having a hard time, so I have been speaking to them separately." Alnilam quickly uses the recently developed mate bond as an excuse for my presence in his room in the middle of the night.

"Ohh!" A smile is quick to jot down on Jamina’s lips.

Her softened eyes find me. "Are they giving you trouble?"

"A bit." I try to smile and it’s not a lie. They keep fighting with each other.

"I can imagine. Alnitak and Ezran have been at each other’s throats since the first day. Come to me whenever they give you trouble." She steps forward and holds my shoulders.

"But they surely care a lot about. I saw how restless Ezran was when the attack happened. He wanted to get to you."

"I know." I return her smile. "I should get going."

"I will drop you off," Alnilam says and I turn towards him.

"It’s not a problem. Thank you for listening to me. Good night." Wishing them I walk away.

My heart painfully pounds in my chest.

Please! Don’t have sex.

Please! Don’t have sex.

The mantra repeats in my head. Lost in thoughts and with my heart shredded, I return to my room, holding back tears.

It should have been me staying in that room with him, not Jamina.

Closing the door to my room, I lean against it, trying to reel in emotions. A tear rolls down my cheek.

The room is empty, except for my bed, where Zille is perched, watching me with his shrewd eyes.

He spreads his wings and flies forward, but to my extreme horror, he transforms mid-air into a huge, naked man.

Coming to stand in front of me, making me clasp my mouth in shock so I won’t scream out.

My pet is not an ordinary bird, it’s a man. A man I know.