The Boy with the Hidden Name (36 page)

what my mother was talking about. Giving enchantment

the ultimate strength: love. It has never been the weakness

the Seelies have always presumed it to be. It has always been

the source of the Le Fay strength. That’s why she didn’t help

us at the Unseelie Court. Because you still could have been

manipulated away to Avalon through love of your father.

Everything still could have fallen apart. But if she sealed

the whole thing with
love
, if she took the power of that love and turned it against the Seelies, against
their
prophecy and toward
ours
, then she would seal the prophecy forever. That was why I had you kiss me. I could get us out of there, but I

needed you to
love
me to do it.”

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The Boy wiTh The hidden name

I look down at him on the grass and I say it out loud. “I

always love you.”

“I know you do.” He sits up. “And you trust me. You said

you did.”

And I shouldn’t. And yet. “I do. I trust you.”

“And I trust you. That’s why I’m telling you. Glockenspiel.”

“I don’t know what you mean when you say that, Ben,” I

tell him. “Is it some kind of faerie vow?”

“No. It’s my hidden name.”

My breath stalls in my chest. He says it so simply, as if it’s

nothing at all. “It’s your what?” I whisper when I can form

words again.

“My hidden name.” He smiles at me, looking delighted

with himself.

“Why would you tell me that?” I ask, astonished.

“Because I trust you.” He leans forward and brushes a kiss

over my lips. “Also because someday you might need to know

my whole name to save me. I do foolish things sometimes,

you know.”

I feel like this is the equivalent of a marriage proposal, this

knowledge he has given me. I tremble with the power of it,

with how matter- of- factly he is placing himself in my hands.

I clench my hands into the front of his raincoat. “Ben…” I

say shakily.

“Shh. I gave you my whole name. You should say it. Say it

the way you love me.”

“Benedict,” I whisper and brush a kiss over his left eyelid

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Skylar DorSet

as it flutters beneath my touch. “Will o’ the Wisp.” I brush

a kiss over his right eyelid. “Celador.” I kiss the bridge of his nose. “Glockenspiel.” I kiss the tip of his nose. “Le Fay,” I

finish. I linger close to him, our noses brushing together. “It’s a beautiful name.”

“Only when you say it. I give you the power of my hidden

name, Selkie Stewart. And I seal it with love.”

Benedict Will o’ the Wisp Celador Glockenspiel Le Fay

kisses me into oblivion. Metaphorically speaking, this time.

Because he’s the best kisser in the Otherworld.

Faerie tales end with
happily
ever
after
. But that’s just where our tale of faeries is beginning.

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aCknOwledgMenTs

As usual, many thanks to the small army of people that make

a book possible:

My agent, Andrea Somberg, whose cheerleading has been

invaluable and who also understands that breakfast is the best

meal of the day.

My editor, Aubrey Poole, who made this book so much

better and did it with aplomb and flair and infinite patience

and made this all so much incredible fun.

The rest of the team at Sourcebooks, including Katy Lynch

and Derry Wilkens, who perform publicist wizardry on

a regular basis, Jillian Bergsma, Cat Clyne, Kay Mitchell,

Valerie Pierce, Katherine Prosswimmer, Jennifer Sterkowitz,

Brittany Vibbert, and Christina Wilson.

My friends, for continued wisdom, talking- off- ledge- ness,

and hilarity, including Sonja L. Cohen, who stayed up late help-

ing with copy editing and provided design services; Claudia

Gray, who basically knows everything in the world in the best

way possible; and Larry Stritof, for ongoing tech support.

Tumblr and Twitter and all who reside there, for saving my

sanity and being madly inspirational.

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Skylar DorSet

And as always, my family: Mom, Dad, Meg, Cait, Ma,

Bobby, Jeff, Jordan, and baby Isabella, for being people I love

to come home for.

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aBOuT The auThOr

Skylar Dorset grew up in Rhode Island, graduated from

Boston College and Harvard Law School, and has lived in

New Orleans, Mississippi, and Washington, DC. But she

actually spends most of her time living with the characters in

her head. She hopes that doesn’t make her sound too crazy.

Visit www.skylardorset.com.

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