The Traitor by A. Lombardo (i can read with my eyes shut TXT) 📕

another weapon on me, I stabbed him in the knee with the same blade. He should be easy enough to find.” Kai pulled the blade from his belt and offered it as proof.

Dante inspected the large hunter’s blade, still stained with blood around the hilt. The button raised the Grand Duke’s eyebrow, and he called Captain Strauss forward. Kai could not hear what they said, but when the captain departed with the blade and button, he imagined the soldier would follow the clues provided.

“Now, Prince Kai, please address the matter at hand. Tell us why you murdered your father.” The Grand Duke remained stoic, holding his chin high, offering no signs that Kai’s discovery carried any weight.

There were no words that would clear Kai’s name or absolve him of his guilt. He knew Nola controlled the council, and she would never let him go free. What mattered, at least to Kai, was the faith of one person sitting before him. He spoke directly to Seth. “I did not kill our father. Do you remember our last conversation, Seth? I asked you to trust me.”

Nola reached for her son’s hand. Seth did not move. “Do not speak to my son. You murdered my husband—you murdered the King. Arrest him. I will not tolerate this nonsense.” Her shouts roused the guards, who took a step closer to the tent.

Dante stood and raised his hand, stopping their approach. “We will hear him speak.” The desperation behind the Grand Duke’s unshaved face gave Kai hope he might have at least one ally on the council besides his cousin. There was no question this man’s loyalty for King Iver ran deep.

With a nod of respect, Kai continued. “Brother, I asked you to remember something. This is very important. Do you remember?”

Seth whispered inaudible words.

The crowd hushed and turned to Seth. Everyone waited for the young prince to speak. “Go ahead,” Cazier said, leaning into the young prince to hear his response.

Tears ran down the boy’s face, and his eyes rose to find Kai’s. “I am here, Seth. Remember what I told you. Once simple truth, no matter what.”

“You said,” Seth croaked, “you said, you loved our father and me.”

Nothing else mattered but his brother’s faith. A tear ran down Kai’s cheek. “I do love our father, as I love you. I did not kill our father. Do you believe me?”

Seth stood. Kai held his breath.

The young prince ran to his brother. “I believe in you, brother.” He shouted, hugging Kai. “I believe you. Please forgive me for hitting you. Mother locked me in prison. She thinks I helped you.”

“Seth, get back here,” Nola instructed, but Seth clung to Kai’s side as he rose to his feet. “Do you see? Kai has brainwashed my son against us. Seth did help Kai escape, and his innocent protests were but another lie! They are both traitors—arrest them!”

“Her tears are not real. I saw her with the Regent laughing and holding hands.” Seth whispered so only Kai could hear.

Kai put a protective arm around his brother and surveyed the change in the tent. Dresnor chose a side, joining Drew and Kai. “I should have believed you,” Dresnor spoke, but focused on the Queen. “I should have helped you. If what Seth just whispered to you is true, we must prove her guilt.”

Emotion pursed Kai’s mouth. He knew Dresnor could read lips. So, it took Seth’s words to convince his Kempery-man, not years of friendship. “Thank you,” was all Kai could say.

Roark rose from his seat, clasping the hilt of his sword. Sword drawn, Cazier stepped closer to the Queen with a protective arm in front of her, his eyes wild, fixed on Kai. Dante held his hands in the air, trying to calm everyone, and for the first time, Sigry pulled his sword and positioned himself to protect the Queen.

Guards closed in around the edges of the tent. Kai knew there was no use. These were all men that Nola most likely owned in one way or another. Even Cazier seemed changed; was he compromised by the Queen too, or was this an act to feign loyalty should this all go horribly wrong? Kai had no idea what or who to trust anymore. Considering Nola had brainwashed him to do her dirty work killing Iver, he wondered if each man here stood against him. They all seemed ready to kill him and anyone who got in her way, even her son.

There was no disputing that Nola had a certain air about her, but today Kai noticed something new. There was a substantial amount of magic emanating from her. He continued to study the movement of her magic. No, not from her, but something on her person. She reeked of darkness and hate. It oozed from her, but it had no real structure. The power hung on her like the very dress she wore but it did not build from within her.

Why had he never sensed it before? It was dark magic, weaker than most Katori magic, but it was there. Gleaning her person, he found a crystal hidden within her dress. A black stone, barely a shard, which he presumed was a Katori crystal. The dull glow was less than a spark, but like all Katori magic, it was noticeable. One by one, heads turned to gaze at her, and the council seemed to fall under her spell.

Unaffected by her words or her magic, Kai’s body locked into fight mode. His mind was free of her spell, for now, but he needed to warn Sabastian. But how? Then it came to him. Searching the forest for the Alpha, he told his wolf friend—the Queen has magic, go to Rayna, tell my friends the queen wears a crystal. The Alpha responded, darting from the trees. Glancing over his shoulder, Kai saw the gray wolf bound up the hill