The Traitor A. Lombardo (best thriller novels to read TXT) 📖

at first, not until he gleaned the secret passage. Her expression was solemn, but at least she was there. Nearly a dozen lords of the land stood glowering at his arrival, their attire more suited for war rather than a social gathering at court. The remainder of the grand room was a mix of Diu and Milnos soldiers standing at attention in their armor.

Grand Duke Dante Carmelo spoke first. “Kai Galloway, you have been found guilty of murdering your father, King Iver Galloway.” The man’s tone was a mix of grief and anger. “Before we pronounce your sentence, we want to know who helped you. We know you were not alone. It is our belief that another person helped you infiltrate the palace. Your room was empty several hours before the murder, and you were nowhere within the palace. Before the murder, nobody saw you enter the king’s chambers. Queen Nola claims she locked the door, and the guards attest to her unlocking the chamber doors while they were on rounds when she found you. Did Kendra give you her key?”

There was nothing Kai could tell them. He had come alone and entered from the balcony, a feat he knew Dante would find impossible given the five-story elevation. With nothing to say, Kai stared at the bottom step of the dais.

“Tell us what happened, Kai?” Master General Cazier pleaded. “Who took Iver? Cousin, please, tell us where you have hidden Iver’s body.”

The pain in his cousin’s voice shattered Kai, but he held his emotions in check. He had no answers for them. Nothing they would believe, anyway. He wanted to beg Cazier’s forgiveness, but there was no use—he had done it. Brainwashed or not, he was guilty.

The crowd roared in anger, calling for war on Katori; men banged their swords to their shields. Kai looked at his hands; specks of blood outlined the edges of his fingernails. Whatever sentence they announced, he deserved. Ready to hear his fate, Kai raised his eyes to meet Nola’s. She was stern and unforgiving, but Kai saw the glint in her eyes. They both knew the truth; he had not been alone in his father’s room. Nola was as much to blame as he.

Seth bolted upright; his white-knuckled fists balled in anger. Tears spilled down his cheeks. Unable to control the anguish boiling within, he stormed down the steps and pounded Kai’s chest. “I hate you. I hate you. I HATE YOU!”

Unable to respond, Kai stood there and took every painful blow. Sweat formed on his head as Seth struck his broken ribs. He bent in pain, but he still refused to beg for his brother’s forgiveness. Cazier pulled Seth away and escorted him out. Sounds of his brother’s torment echoed from the hall.

Dante cleared his throat. “Kai Galloway, if you would name your accomplice, you would be sentenced to life in prison rather than be sentenced to death. Please, boy, who was with you? Who stole our king’s body? Do you not deny these accusations?” the Grand Duke begged one last time.

Lost in a daze, nothing made any sense to him.

“If you will not give us what we ask, you are hereby sentenced to death by hanging. You have two days to get right with your maker. May Alenga forgive you, because I cannot. Guards, take him away,” Dante ordered before storming out of the grand ballroom, unwilling to look at Kai a moment longer.

Hearing his sentence did not scare Kai as much as he thought it would. Instead, it was a relief. His eyes caught a glimpse of pride flicker across Nola’s face. She had won, and he had helped her. Everything she had ever said to him rang in his ears. Her instructions to kill Iver, her profession of love, even her kissing him—all of it came flooding back. He had been a fool to think he could stop her.

The memories made him sick, but he held back his urge to vomit. There was no way he could prove she was involved. Iver was dead by his blade. The proof stained his hands, not hers. By the time he returned to his cell, he again felt sick to his stomach. Alone in the dark, he sat, saddened by what had happened and confused as to how he was so foolish to fight fate—because, for the first time, he lost.

Chapter 12

Lost at Sea

Lack of sleep corrupted Kai’s senses, and the appearance of a dark silhouette startled him. The flicker of flames danced on the walls, the iron gate, and the guard. The man unlocked the door and stepped inside. Although Kai was unaware of the time, it felt too early to be morning. He braced himself for another beating.

The guard leaned against the wall opposite Kai, and his metal armor scrapped the stone. Kai sat up to get a better look at the man. He had seen him before, days ago—one of the first to beat him until he passed out, a Milnos captain covered in battle scars with little desire to listen to any protesting Kai tried on the first day. The man who broke him in more ways than one.

The guard's lack of conversation did not surprise him, but his hands-off approach left Kai uneasy. He did not know why the man only stared until he broke their long silence. “Well done, my boy, well done. I knew you had my darkness. Killing a king, impressive, and your father to boot. Well, stepfather. I hope you know you started a war. Milnos warriors are pouring into Diu every day with plans of attacking Katori.”

Kai looked at the man in confusion—until the stranger’s face and body started to twist and change. Before his eyes, the guard standing in front of him morphed into Keegan. Pale pink scars