“Just know," he says, "that I'd do anything for you. That I'd let you do anything to me. There's nothing about you I don't want.”
― Any Way the Wind Blows
― Any Way the Wind Blows
“Makedon was explaining the virtues of iron tea to Laurent, and when Laurent massaged his own temple with finely bred fingers, Makedon remarked, rising, ‘You should have your slave fetch you some.’
‘Fetch me some,’ Laurent said.
Damen rose. And stopped.
Laurent had gone very still. Damen stood there, awkwardly. He could think of no other reason why he had stood up.
He looked up and his eyes met those of Nikandros, who was staring at him. Nikandros was with a small group to one side of the table, the last of the men in the hall. He was the only one to have seen and heard. Damen just stood there.
‘This meeting is over,’ Nikandros announced to the men around him, too loudly. ‘The King is ready to ride.”
― Kings Rising
‘Fetch me some,’ Laurent said.
Damen rose. And stopped.
Laurent had gone very still. Damen stood there, awkwardly. He could think of no other reason why he had stood up.
He looked up and his eyes met those of Nikandros, who was staring at him. Nikandros was with a small group to one side of the table, the last of the men in the hall. He was the only one to have seen and heard. Damen just stood there.
‘This meeting is over,’ Nikandros announced to the men around him, too loudly. ‘The King is ready to ride.”
― Kings Rising
“To gain everything and lose everything in the space of a moment. That is the fate of all princes destined for the throne.”
― Kings Rising
― Kings Rising
“It was like being pleased by a thorn bush, feeling fond of every prickle.”
― Captive Prince: Volume Two
― Captive Prince: Volume Two
“Did you learn the rotation of the border patrols?’ said Laurent.
‘Yes, our scouts found—’
Laurent was standing in the doorway wearing a chiton of unadorned white cotton.
Damen dropped the pitcher.
It shattered, shards flying outward as it slipped from his fingers and hit the stone floor.
Laurent’s arms were bare. His throat was bare. His collarbone was bare, and most of his thighs, his long legs, and all of his left shoulder. Damen stared at him.
‘You’re wearing Akielon clothing,’ said Damen.
‘Everyone’s wearing Akielon clothing,’ said Laurent.
Damen thought that the pitcher had shattered and he could not now take a deep draught of the wine. Laurent came forward, navigating the broken ceramic in his short cotton and sandalled feet, until he reached the seat beside Damen, where the map was laid out on the wooden table.
‘Once we know the rotation of the patrols, we’ll know when to approach,’ said Laurent.
Laurent sat down.
‘We need to approach at the beginning of their rotation in order to give us the most time before they report back to the fort.’
It was even shorter sitting down.
‘Damen.’
‘Yes. Sorry,’ said Damen. And then: ‘What were you saying?”
― Kings Rising
‘Yes, our scouts found—’
Laurent was standing in the doorway wearing a chiton of unadorned white cotton.
Damen dropped the pitcher.
It shattered, shards flying outward as it slipped from his fingers and hit the stone floor.
Laurent’s arms were bare. His throat was bare. His collarbone was bare, and most of his thighs, his long legs, and all of his left shoulder. Damen stared at him.
‘You’re wearing Akielon clothing,’ said Damen.
‘Everyone’s wearing Akielon clothing,’ said Laurent.
Damen thought that the pitcher had shattered and he could not now take a deep draught of the wine. Laurent came forward, navigating the broken ceramic in his short cotton and sandalled feet, until he reached the seat beside Damen, where the map was laid out on the wooden table.
‘Once we know the rotation of the patrols, we’ll know when to approach,’ said Laurent.
Laurent sat down.
‘We need to approach at the beginning of their rotation in order to give us the most time before they report back to the fort.’
It was even shorter sitting down.
‘Damen.’
‘Yes. Sorry,’ said Damen. And then: ‘What were you saying?”
― Kings Rising
Michele’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Michele’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Michele
Lists liked by Michele


















