The Skin Thief

Chapter 32

Kiora

Kiora stands alone in the grandest bedroom she's ever been in. Sorcha had told her that this was the best room in the Luvern Palace, but it was nothing compared to the High Palace of Myralelle. As she looks around at the marble floors, golden fittings, and giant four-poster bed adorned in red velvet, Kiora wonders how this room could pale in comparison to the emperor's palace. How could anything be grander than this?

With a sigh, Kiora walks over to the glass double doors. The golden handles are cool as her hands wrap around them. The doors glide open, and she steps onto the balcony. Immediately heat sweeps over her, making her skin feel clammy and uncomfortable.

Used to the feeling now, Kiora ignores it and leans on the stone wall of the balcony. She stares out at the city. From here, she can see the cathedral where she is to be wed later today. The building is spectacular with its giant stone walls, epic spired rooves, and curling archways. She imagines that it has thousands of tiny statues, and intricate carvings in the stone that can only be seen once you're close enough – making it even more beautiful.

What draws her attention to it the most, is a great domed ceiling right in the middle, made from an array of different coloured glass and surrounded by shining gold fittings. As the sun rises, the glass shines and even from her spot so far away, she can see the colourful reflections bouncing off it and adorning the buildings around it.

Yet, despite the cathedral's beauty, it is still overshadowed by The Dragons' Nest.

The great wall of black seems to cut the city in half and casts it in shadows despite the glowing gold of the sunrise. Kiora shudders just looking at it.

Now she isn't looking at the city from above, The Nest feels even bigger. She can't see beyond it. She can barely even see its curve. It just looks like one, long, black wall.

The sound of a screech cuts through the morning quiet, silencing the bird song Kiora had been listening to. Kiora shuts her eyes and lets out a long sigh as the hairs on the back of her neck stand. The thought of dragons the size of the city nesting and living in the grounds beneath her feet makes her stomach twist in fear.

The knock on the door makes her jump. She spins quickly as Sorcha walks in.

"Ah, you're up already. I trust you slept well, my lady?" she asks.

"Well enough," Kiora replies.

"Wonderful," Sorcha replies and grins brightly. Kiora can't help but smile back and her shoulders lose a little bit of their tension upon seeing the familiar face. "The maids and stylists will all be here soon, but I thought you may want to eat some breakfast in peace before they start poking and prodding you for the next three hours."

"Thank you," Kiora replies, walking back into the room.

"Wow," Sorcha whispers.

Kiora pauses. "What?"

"You really are a beauty, my lady. The way the morning sun lit you up made you almost look like a goddess."

Kiora chuckles and closes the velvet curtains. "You're too kind, Sorcha," she says.

Sorcha laughs and then puts a tray down on Kiora's dressing table. Kiora walks toward it, the soft, white material of her night dress flowing around her gracefully as she moves. Sorcha pulls out the cushioned stool for her and Kiora takes a seat.

"You're going to be the most beautiful of all his wives, my lady," Sorcha says.

"Have you met the other wives?" Kiora asks.

"Yes, I have worked with them for many years." Sorcha's face falls. "I don't want to speak ill of them, my lady, but they're going to be jealous."

"Really?" Kiora asks and starts picking flakes off of the golden pastry.