The Skin Thief

Chapter 106

Kiora

Kiora glides effortlessly across the thick snow, leaving behind no prints to mark her trail. Despite the wind howling, her hair and dress no longer billow around her. The storm doesn't touch her. Strength continues to surge through her, filling the emptiness that has plagued her for so long.

She is a priestess again, and this is her storm, and it is violent and angry.

Kiora smiles, lets out a deep breath and unleashes everything, laughing as she pictures her storm wreaking havoc across this realm. She can feel the way that the cold chills to the bone almost immediately. She can sense the way the snow grows thicker and thicker, trapping everything beneath it. She laughs at the way the wind destroys everything in its wake.

This is her wrath.

"Kiora!" The voice is a distant whisper carried on the wind. For a second, she thinks she's imagined it.

"Kiora!" it calls again.

She pauses and turns to look back at the way she came. A figure emerges from the storm, and she tilts her head curiously.

Athan steps towards her. His teeth are gritted in determination as his thick fur coat thrashes around him, and he wades through thigh-high snow. She watches him struggle as he pushes forward, holding his arms up to protect his face from the snow and wind being hurled into it.

"Kiora!" he calls again, having not noticed her yet.

He shouldn't have made it this far. He should be lying in the snow, close to unconsciousness as hypothermia sets in. In fact, he shouldn't even have the strength to fight against the wind. But then again, Athan is far stronger than a normal man.

Kiora narrows her eyes as she watches the snow melting around him, making his path somewhat easier.

As he notices the light, he looks up. Their eyes meet again for the first time since he left two years ago. His mouth drops open in awe as he sees her.

Kiora is magnificent.

Her skin is illuminated in an ethereal white light. Her dress is like it's made from ice as it flows effortlessly over her body, sparkling from the glow she emits. Her silver-lilac hair hangs down her back in gentle waves, the locks thick, glossy, and perfect.

Athan doesn't speak for a few moments. He doesn't even breathe. Kiora's striking eyes bore into him. They glow too, a bright shimmering silver.

"Kiora," he says breathlessly.

"I'm leaving, Athan," she says, her voice serene compared to the storm.

"Please," he begs. "Please stay. I need you!"

She stares at him, her lips trembling with rage.

"You've destroyed me," she says, her voice terrifyingly calm.

"Kiora," he begs, stepping closer. "Please. I won't ever let this happen to you again! Just come home."

Kiora's jaw tightens, and she turns away from him. He reaches out, taking her hand. She gasps and looks at him, staring into those spectacular dragon eyes. She pauses for a second, her body filling with a strange warmth at his touch.

Athan is here. After all this time, she is in his presence again. He's back. A part of her is relieved. She had missed him. But that part of her is squashed down by her anger, and she yanks her hand from his.

He doesn't reach for her again, his jaw tightening.

"I can't stop you," he says, his voice defeated. "I have no right to stop you after everything that's been done to you under my watch."