The Skin Thief

Chapter 60

Kiora

The emperor calls on Kiora the following night. And the night after that. In fact, he calls for Kiora every night for a whole week, the streak ending when he finally calls upon Illyria eight days after Kiora and the emperor's wedding.

In the months following, the emperor calls upon Kiora at least two times, maybe three, every week. She doesn't miss the looks the wives give her as she walks with them in the gardens. Nor does Kiora miss the way they whisper to each other when she's nearby.

When she sleeps, she hears their insufferable cruel giggles and their whispers echo in her mind. Nowhere in the palace is free from them. They even infect her dreams of Alice. The wicked sounds drown Alice out, rendering her almost mute. 

Kiora's chest aches as Alice and the memory of her grows more tainted, grows weaker. For causing such a loss of her own small happiness, Kiora curses the wives a little more every day. More so, she curses King Lucas, that fool of a king. The man who stole her from her home, who stole her from Alice. Her teeth grind together with suppressed rage and images of burying him in ice fill her mind, bringing her a strange slither of satisfaction.

One day. One day he will face Winter's wrath.

Worst of all, however, is the fact that she can feel Lady Illyria watching her. Every time Illyria's turquoise eyes look upon her, Kiora feels the hairs on the back of her neck stand and a horrible chill spreads through her body.

Yet, Illyria has done nothing to her.

She can feel it coming though. She can sense it.

She can sense it in the way Princess Alethia knowingly smirks at her.

She can sense it in the way the guards don't meet her eyes as she walks past.

She can sense it every morning when Sorcha walks in and looks relieved that Kiora has made it through another night unharmed.

Everyone knows something is coming.

Kiora suspects Illyria is waiting on purpose. Leaving Kiora to fret and wonder is all part of her cruel plan, whatever that may be.

She tries to tell the emperor. He doesn't listen.

"Nothing is going to happen to you, Kiora. This is the safest place in all the realms," he says, chuckling as though Kiora is just a silly little girl. The sound makes Kiora want to rip her hair out, but she forces on a smile.

"I know," she replies. "And I would never question your ability to keep me safe, Athan. But please, I beg you, stop disregarding my instincts. If I feel as though something is wrong, then something is wrong."

He smiles softly and takes her hand, leading her into his study.

"Enough talk of danger," he says, disregarding her yet again. "I heard you finished your latest book already."

Kiora sighs and bites back her response. She turns to the wall of bookshelves and stares at it for a few moments before answering him, remembering the day he first led her in here and told her that his books were also her books.

"I have," she finally says. He takes a seat on one of the plush leather armchairs.

"And tell me, what was that one about?"

Kiora walks over to the shelf and pulls out a thick book bound in deep red leather.

"Have you not read this one?" she asks.

"Many years ago," he replies.

Kiora takes the book and sits on the chair beside him.

There weren't always two chairs in here. He had ordered one bought in only a few weeks after Kiora's arrival. They had fallen into a comfortable routine together on the nights he called for her.