Chapter 1

Every woman the Winfields have chosen to marry into the family gets her name written into the register at the family shrine. I waited seven years for Nat Winfield, and today his mother had decided it was my turn.

That day the whole family was happy for us, teasing me as they went:

"Once your name's in the register, you're a Winfield."

"That boy Nat really is lucky. Hard to find someone this devoted!"

The elders called Nat over to write my name himself.

I stood there, full of hope, watching him. And on the register he wrote "Gertrude Pruitt." But my name is Ainsley Vaughn!

Everyone froze. Only his little assistant couldn't hold back her delighted little gasp. "Mr. Winfield, are you sure you didn't make a mistake?"

He didn't answer her. He raised his voice instead, explaining. "As everyone knows, Ainsley comes from the ancient lineage. They're skilled with the soul-bound love charm."

"I can't yet be certain whether what I feel for her is real, or the work of a love charm."

"So, Ainsley, once I'm certain, there's no harm in changing the register then."

My heart shattered on the spot. But my mother always said that a real heart won by a love charm is nothing but a reflection in water. Nothing you can hold.

So I have never once used a love charm on Nat Winfield.

The Winfield family had all gone silent. Only his little assistant couldn't wipe the smile off her face.

Just then my index finger twitched, faintly. It was my mother's signal, calling me home to marry!

1

"If it's real, I'll marry you eventually. There's no need to rush."

Seeing how crushed I looked, Nat turned to comfort me, the way he always did. But I'd lost count of how many times I'd heard that exact line over seven years.

At dinner he seated Gertrude beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world, then didn't forget to text me an explanation:

"Gertrude's shy around new people, you understand. It's a girl's first time at someone else's house. She's not used to it yet."

"Like the first time I brought you home. Weren't you clinging to me every minute back then?"

"But Nat, does a fiancée really have to be treated the same as everyone else?"

I typed it out without thinking. Then I thought about it and deleted it. I never sent it. It didn't matter anymore.

Aunt Brooklyn Winfield sat down beside me and sighed. "Ainsley, go home. Our people never marry out of the village."

"Marry out, and you'll be thrown into the pit of ten thousand insects, to feel the charm-insects burrow into your heart and devour it."

"Going into that pit is nine parts death, one part life."

"Years ago, when Nat's father asked to marry me, he went through the pit of ten thousand insects at my side."

"He was willing to stake his life to marry me. So I was willing to go through it with him."

"But that boy Nat isn't worth this from you. So go home!"

Every child in the mountain village, boy or girl, who marries out or brings an outsider in, is thrown into the pit of ten thousand insects.

Live, and you earn the chance to choose. Die, and you're buried forever in the soil where you were born.

I nodded quietly. Nat's mother is a charm-master of our ancient lineage. She can cast the charm, and she can break it. So, Nat, I won't keep playing along with this game you tell yourself is real.

All through that meal he wiped the little assistant's mouth, picked out dishes for her, fended off the drinks meant for her, tied back her hair. He was as attentive as ever. Only this time the one he was taking care of was someone else.

After the banquet ended, Nat finally remembered me. He pulled me into his arms and teased, "Jealous, are you? My lady, you've been through this yourself. You should understand the spot little Gerty's in."

"All right, all right, don't be angry. I'm going to Harbor City in a few days to close a deal. I'll bring you a gift, all right?"

Gertrude leaned in too, smiling as she comforted me. "Ainsley, don't be angry at Mr. Winfield over me. It's just a name, it means nothing. Even without your name in the register, you're still Mrs. Winfield."

Nat ruffled my hair. "See? A girl fresh out of school understands that much. How is it you still don't?"

"Mr. Winfield, when we're in Harbor City we could go out combing the tide flats. It's romantic, it's fun. And we can bring Ainsley back some colored shells."