Kingdom of Ash

Elide laughed again. “Lord Lorcan
Lochan?”
It sounded just as ridiculous coming out.
Lorcan blinked at her, then howled.
She’d never heard such a joyous sound.
He swept her up in his arms again, spinning
her. “I’ll use it with pride every damned day
for the rest of my life,” he said into her hair,
and when he set her down, his smile had
vanished. Replaced by an infinite tenderness
as he brushed back her hair, hooking it over an
ear. “I will marry you, Elide Lochan. And
proudly call myself Lord Lorcan Lochan, even
when the whole kingdom laughs to hear it.”
He kissed her, gently and lovingly. “And when
we are wed,” he whispered, “I will bind my
life to yours. So we will never know a day
apart. Never be alone, ever again.”
Elide covered her face with her hands and
sobbed, at the heart he offered, at the