Breaking Stars (Book 2) by Jenna Van Vleet

ghastly, concerned Nolen and a flagon of wine which was so unspeakable she tried to blot it from her memory. Second, she had to find the other women who contended for a spot with the Class Ten on the journey. She snuck them into dark halls and unused rooms and bashed their heads before tying them up. With luck, none would free themselves until she was well out of their range.
    Whisperings of the Prince’s journey had the Arconian hall aflutter for days now since the women knew he would take the Class Ten with him. Her companion Lace was already part of the travelers, a position she was most distressed about. She had returned to the room late the night before with red eyes and would speak to no one, but Bianji said she had been with Prince Nolen and Gabriel. “Last time they were together, they destroyed a palace. Stars know where they went this time.”
    Thankfully, Mikelle had a stronger stomach and had done many wrong and terrible things in the name of justice. With her as his confidant, Gabriel would have a fighting chance to take back all stolen from him.
    She dressed in a soft wool dress dyed dark purple, a long lambskin coat, and tall boots tucked under her skirts. Shayleen had kindly done her hair up in two braids that wrapped around the back of her head pinned with ivory from Shalaban. A bag of clothes and supplies slung over her shoulder which felt far too heavy. Her weakness had kept her back the evening before, but she knew she could not appear weak now, and so continued through the palace to the Queen’s apartments.
    Gabriel’s breaking had taken everyone by surprise, but not Mikelle. She had seen it in his eyes. He was well over the cusp of saving, and she knew it would happen soon, but she had hoped he would last a bit longer. She had not seen him since the evening when the whole palace woke to thunder and bells ringing.
    “Do something! Do something!” Shayleen had been yelling at Bianji as all three watched a man far down in the courtyard tied to the whipping post. She willed herself to believe it was not Gabriel, but even from her distance, she knew his stance and form. That was the night he broke, but there was more to it she did not yet know.
    The guards outside the Queen’s apartments searched her bag for weapons before letting her inside. They dare not touch a lady, so she was sure to keep all her weapons on her person, tucked into her boots and tied to a thigh. Anatolian men were so predictable.
    The anteroom was quiet. Lady Aisling had vanished the night of Gabriel’s breaking, and the Queen was reportedly shut in her rooms. That left Gabriel’s allies thin. Unfortunately for him, he was not alone. Nolen’s tenor voice emanated through the crack in the door, and she held her breath as she crept up to it.
    “...many times?” Nolen asked.
    “Twice,” came the reply, further away and muffled as fabric whispered over something.
    Nolen chuckled. “Very good. Finish dressing, we….” He stopped, and Mikelle suspected she had been heard, so she pushed the door open.
    “Is he naked? That would please me,” she smiled and stepped in.
    “Would you like him to be?” Nolen smirked. He stood in the middle of the window, looking out over the view with his arms folded. He dressed in a short rust-colored coat fitted with little diamonds of silver punched down the sleeve seams and over the breast. The rest of him was garbed in warm-looking clothing, fine wool trousers, tall boots, a high-necked jerkin, scarf, and his Mage cloak. She glanced towards the washroom to Gabriel tucking a green shirt into black trousers.
    She smirked. “Maybe just a little naked.”
    “You heard the lady,” Nolen snapped. Gabriel did not bother looking up to see who it was, and reached his hands over his head to pull the shirt off. The willing action performed so quickly and without protest horrified Mikelle. She ate up the distance between them, giving Nolen a pleased grin as he watched her go. Gabriel looked up a