Page 45 of The Kingdom Cursed By Iron

“In what way?”

“I don’t know. Their true names aren’t noted anywhere, but the idea is in there. You have names that align or complement each other, then it means you’re fated partners—soulmates.”

My heart speeds up, fast enough that I wonder if Destan can hear it.

Soulmates.

“It’s real, then? It actually happens to people?”

Destan makes a face.

“It’s extremely rare, so much so that there’s a lot of dodgy lore around it.” Destan looks to the sky, like he’s trying to remember a list of things. “Supposedly, the bond isn’t ‘active’ until they share their true names, but after that, the legends say they can do amazing things.”

“Like what?”

“Like share or merge their magic. I think they can share other things too, but honestly, I never really gave it much thought. These days, the only ones who pay attention to it are young people with sentimental ideas about love. There’s always some two-bit ephor making gold off of claiming they can find your naminai match—and always someone dumb enough to take them up on it.”

“Can the ephors really do that?” My mind spins, wondering if I can somehow confirm what I’m fast beginning to suspect.

“No. It’s a load of old hogswash. I mean, maybe we’re all walking around with naminai matches and don’t know because none of us are sharing our true names, but honestly, I just don’t think it’s really a thing anymore. It’s not the Seelie way for marriage to be decided by fate. It’s more likely to be decided by our parents,” he says, looking like he has a bad taste in his mouth.

Sure, Destan’s probably right, this naminai bond is probably super rare, something that only happens once in blue moon.

Kind of like a human with magic.

There’s a reason that Destan’s not looking at me with any suspicion right now, despite my odd questions—he can’t fathom that I, a human, would have a true name. But I do have one, and it’s Ruskin’s exact counterpart.

So what’s more naïve, believing this connection between us is fate or refusing to believe this could be anything more than a coincidence? Yes, Ruskin knew who I was once he’d met me, but I summoned him, not knowing I would look like the perfect person to break his curse: a gold weaver striking a deal with the man with a golden heart. And now this. Is this fate? Is this some force beyond me pushing me towards Ruskin? Is that why I have to fight so hard not to think about him every moment, even as I plan to leave him and this world behind forever?

“You look a bit pale,” Destan says, examining me. “What is this really about, Eleanor?”

No, we can’t be naminai or soulmates or whatever they want to call it. If Ruskin was my perfect match, he’d never make me feel the way I do, so lost and confused. There wouldn’t be so many walls between us, all the secrets and the anger.

“I was just curious was all,” I say again, my voice coming out raspy and strained. I get up, straightening out my skirts. “Thanks, Destan.”

Destan catches my arm as I turn to go.

“Whatever it is, Eleanor, you can tell me. I don’t want you leaving again. You wouldn’t, would you? Without a warning this time?” He looks genuinely alarmed and I rush to calm him.

“No, of course not. I promise.”

He frowns. “It’s very frustrating, you know, not being able to tell if you’re lying. I don’t know how you humans ever believe what one of your kind is saying.”

I try not be offended. I did leave without a word last time. He’s not wrong to be suspicious. I soften my voice.

“It’s called faith, Des. I know that kind of thing is in short supply around here, but you can have it in me. As long as it’s in my power, I won’t leave Faerie again without saying goodbye.”

“Good,” he says, letting go of my arm and looking at his feet. “I don’t think he could take it.”

I don’t need to ask who he’s talking about. Who else could it be other than the man who I’m apparently tied to, whether I like it or not? The person who upended my life and my heart, who seems to know me inside out without being willing to share more than a fraction of himself.

My naminai match, my soulmate. Ruskin.

Chapter 15

Iknow I’m not paying attention as my feet carry me back through the palace. I’m not heading anywhere in particular. Each step summons another one, and I keep pacing the palace corridors. Because if I stop, I might have to decide what this means. If I stop, I have to live with the knowledge that the man who broke my heart is, by some magical decree, meant to be with me.

My distraction explains why I didn’t hear them coming.

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