The Traitor
The Katori Chronicles
Book 4
A. D. Lombardo
BOOKS BY A. D. LOMBARDO
The Katori Chronicles:
The Half-Light
Mariana’s Secret
Rayna’s Sacrifice
The Traitor
The Traitor
The Katori Chronicles Book 4
A. D. Lombardo
This work is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used factiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2021 A. D. Lombardo
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author or publisher—except for the use of brief quotations for a book review.
Published by Nichols INK
ISBN (Paperback): 978-1-7333376-6-3
ISBN (Ebook): 978-1-7333376-7-0
Cover design by A. D. Lombardo
First Edition 2021
www.ADLombardo.com
I dedicate this book to my son Connor,
who no matter the hour
finds time to listen to my story ideas.
Acknowledgments
What can I say about the creation of book four? It was never mean to be its own book, yet here it is. Scrapes from Rayna’s Sacrifice left in shreds on the editing floor brought to life during a pandemic.
When I published book three days after the world shut down, we all sat and watch everything around us change. Many struggled to find a new sense of normal and cope with being cut off from friends and family. I for one found it challenging, but I am blessed to have people who never gave up on me.
For all those writers who suffer writers block and never give up, bless you. It took a writing class, my editor, and fellow writers to wake my muse and help stir the passion to complete this book in what felt like an upside-down world.
As always, I must thank my son, Connor, without him I would have never found this passion. A big thank you to my devoted husband; he supports me in so many ways without question. 2020 hit us all hard and we each came out stronger.
Special thanks to my family and friends for your continued support. And as always, Buddy, thank you for walking into the office every night reminding me to keep writing.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1 Snow Wolf
Chapter 2 Destructive Lies
Chapter 3 Battle Pains
Chapter 4 A Just Cause
Chapter 5 Winter Festival
Chapter 6 Wicked Intentions
Chapter 7 Escape
Chapter 8 Little Sister
Chapter 9 Free Your Mind
Chapter 10 Shattered Dreams
Chapter 11 Even Kings Die
Chapter 12 Lost at Sea
Chapter 13 Keegan's Darkness
Chapter 14 Freedom
Chapter 15 The Hunted
Chapter 16 Redemption
Chapter 17 One More Dead Man
Chapter 18 Graveyards
Chapter 19 Helena’s Pain
Chapter 20 The Gravedigger
Chapter 21 Precious Moments
Chapter 22 Convergence
Chapter 23 Last Words
Chapter 24 Roark’s Fury
Chapter 25 Exposed
Chapter 26 New Beginnings
Epilogue
Prologue
Queen Nola strolled outside from the King’s council chamber, her gold embellished boots leaving prints in the fresh snow. The winter sun felt warm on her face but made her green eyes blink against the change in brightness. She leaned against the stone railing, wrapped in her blue velvet coat with white fur trim for warmth. Her towering view over the palace gardens and the sprawling Diu city beyond gave her pause. She did not care about these people, but she enjoyed her status above them.
The cold wind bit her nose and swept her golden locks to the side. Regent Lucas Maxwell stepped away from the other council members and joined her outside. “Diu is a beautiful city,” he said, interrupting her thoughts. “Small compared to Milnos, but it has its charm.”
Queen Nola scanned the dwindling crowd before returning to the power-hungry ruler of Milnos. A man old enough to be her father, who beheld her with lustful eyes and contempt all at the same time. She hated him, but he was a useful pawn.
Regent Maxwell reclined against the stone railing. The wind tugged at his long wavy hair and gray beard. Nola watched his beady eyes study the three stone archways behind her. She knew he was waiting for the other councilmen to leave and give them privacy. Reading men, understanding their desires, manipulating them to do her bidding—it was almost too easy.
When the chamber behind them fell silent, Maxwell crossed the divide between them, tilting his head to kiss her. His beard tickled her nose, and she pushed him away before he could grab onto her.
“I suppose Diu does have some charm,” she muttered, avoiding him. She continued to play hard to get, stepping around a large evergreen potted plant.
The corner of his mouth curled with sly intent, and Nola watched his gaze comb the length of her. “I guess it’s a shame we plan to burn it all to the ground.”
There was no denying the thought of destroying Diu—and the man Nola had grown to hate—thrilled her to the bone. Her glee bubbled to the surface. “With Iver dying and Prince Kai gone, I will put Aaron on the Diu throne. These people will bend under his rule, and with my guidance, we can annex this country into Milnos without lifting a finger.”
She could tell her plan had struck a nerve. Maxwell crossed his arms and leaned away from her. “Why the change of heart?” he scoffed. “I thought we agreed Diu must burn once we put your brother Landon on the Milnos throne.”
It was true; all Nola ever wanted was to destroy the Galloway family line and the city of Diu. Glaring back at Maxwell, she held her nose high. “Illegitimate or not,
