aleccto:

_{“I want you to know my name,” he said. “The name I was given, not the title I took for myself. Will you have it, Alina?” […]
“Yes,” I breathed.}

_{After a long moment, he said, “Aleksander.”
A little laugh escaped me. He arched a brow, a smile tugging at his lips. “What?”}

_{“It’s just so … common.” Such an ordinary name, held by kings and peasants alike. I’d known two Aleksanders at Keramzin alone, three in the First Army. One of them had died on the Fold.}

_{His smile deepened and he cocked his head to the side. It almost hurt to see him this way. “Will you say it?” he asked.}

_{I hesitated, feeling danger crowd in on me.}

_{“Aleksander,” I whispered.}

_{His grin faded, and his gray eyes seemed to flicker.}

_{“Again,” he said.}