Flashback ( PDFDrive )

—but then they barely paid attention to that. No one ever mentioned
when they turned a year older, and half the time it seemed like they
weren’t even sure how old they were—especially the Ancients.
The system had felt strange at first. But Sophie had grown to
understand why the elves didn’t feel the need to mark every year when
they were going to live for thousands of them.
The match is different, Fitz explained. They want us to have our lists as
early as possible, so we have lots of time to consider everyone on them—and
probably so we don’t get too attached to anyone before we know who we’re
matched with. But also not so young that we haven’t manifested our abilities,
since that’s one of the big deciding factors.
Sophie was pretty sure her human parents would’ve told her that
the ages Fitz was talking about were still way too young for dating of
any kind—much less matchmaking. Actually, they’d probably have a lot
to say about the whole system.
But . . . she wasn’t living with humans anymore.
She was an elf in the Lost Cities.
She was supposed to be doing things their way.
And, for better or worse, the elvin way involved matchmaking—
which she qualified for right now.
But you said I had time to think about it, she reminded him. When we
were sitting under Calla’s Panakes tree.
She remembered that conversation very clearly, mostly because it
was the same conversation where he’d told her he was hoping she’d
decide to register. And even though there was a decent chance he’d
only said that part because he was trying to protect her from all the
problems she’d face if she ended up in a bad match, her silly, hopeful
brain sometimes liked to imagine there’d been another reason.