The Necromancer Queen: The Necromancer Princess, #3

By Valery Keith

Book 3 of the Necromancer Trilogy

Having retired from his position as Mountainvale's city commander to follow the woman he loves into hiding, Garrett Morvan is not enjoying country life like he had hoped he would. Now, he has nothing more pressing to do than menial chores, their cottage is far too primitive and his every step is dogged by an annoying goat named Claudia. Much as he loves Bree, he's near to the breaking point, waiting for something to change.

But then her uncle Eddie, Mountainvale's notorious Rat King of the Warrens, arrives with his sister Marian, an inherited spymaster and his shadow arm, determined to put Bree on the throne, regardless of her feelings about it.

Suddenly, country life is the least of his problems.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Valery Keith
• Release date: May 21, 2018
• ISBN: 9781944535308

Book preview

Chapter 2

Later that day, Bree stood by the back of their cottage, watching as Claudia trotted after Garrett, nosing his pockets while he tried to ignore her. He was pushing the wheelbarrow to the compost pile, while Claudia had wiggled out from between the fence rails to follow him once he had left the little barn after mucking it out. Claudia had come with the cottage when she had purchased it, along with a little chicken coop of hens which provided them with daily eggs.

Despite the original owners’ intentions for the chickens, which she refused to even discuss with Garrett, Bree considered them pets and treated them accordingly, including naming them. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to eat chicken; she just didn’t want to eat their chickens. Since they had to feed and water them every day and lock them up to keep them safe every night, she felt far too much like their benevolent protector to eat them.

But while the chickens didn’t seem to distinguish between her and Garrett, Claudia shamelessly played favorites, completely unaware of who her strongest advocate really was. While she was always affectionate with Bree, she sincerely loved Garrett, to the point where she followed him everywhere, nosing him, chewing on his clothes and just generally annoying him out of affection and curiosity. Garrett, however, did not always feel the same, especially depending on where Claudia was nosing. Now, he suddenly stopped, letting go of the wheelbarrow and whirling around to glare at the goat right behind him.

Claudia, he growled. Stop that. Behave.

When he turned around and leaned over again, Claudia nosed him in the rear once more, sending him shooting upright and whirling around to glare at her.

Stop that! Bad goat!

Sure as she was by now that Garrett would never do more than that, Claudia simply stood there, gazing lovingly at him. His finger came up and he shook it at the goat as he admonished her again. That was enough that when he started forward again, Claudia just sedately followed behind. But after he had reached the compost pile and dumped the wheelbarrow, Claudia nosed him once more, sending him jumping forward before he whirled around to glare at her again.

Claudia! Stop that. Go back behind the fence. Now.

By then, Bree was in hysterics, stamping one foot as Garrett narrowed his eyes at her, clearly trying not to smile. When he started walking over to her, Claudia followed right behind. He was doing his best to ignore that he was being trailed by a goat, until she reached out and nipped his rear. He stopped dead, spinning around to glare at her once more, but it was obvious that Claudia didn’t take him very seriously.

Don’t be so cruel, Bree said between gasps of laughter. She just can’t help herself. She loves you.

He narrowed his eyes at her. Your goat is a menace.

Bree just smiled. I don’t think we can call her mine. She loves you so much more.

Since he couldn’t really dispute that, he just gave her a sour look. But she could see the humor in his expression anyway, despite how stern he was trying to appear.

How flattering, he growled.

She reached out and caught his hand, pulling him closer so that his arms came around her waist as she smiled up at him.

She has good taste, she teased. Now stop complaining about how popular you are and come eat. I made stew. And this time, I even remembered the salt.

So they went inside their little cottage, Garret thoughtfully holding the door open for her as she smiled in thanks. She did her best to ignore how this was going, because it wasn’t like she had thought it would be. It was much harder than she had imagined to transition from the bustle and noise of a huge city to someplace as isolated as this new home, where all she ever heard were the sounds of nature. But even still, she had at least grown up at Blackwood, a hunting lodge, so she would eventually adjust if she just kept at it with a positive attitude.

But she wasn’t sure if Garrett would ever feel comfortable here. He had grown up in a loud, busy city, at which the speed of life was entirely different. Here, things were much slower and calmer. She wasn’t always sure she liked that after so many years spent living in Mountainvale, so she could only imagine how he felt about it.

He said he liked it, but she wasn’t entirely sure that was the complete truth. Some nights, she was rather certain that he regretted what he had done for her. She wasn’t sure why she thought that, except that there was a restlessness about him that hadn’t been there in the city.

There, he had been certain of his role and his responsibilities as City Commander. Here, he was bored, maybe even lost, and she could see it. She felt terrible about that, because it was exactly what she had feared.

He had given up everything for her, resigning from his post and leaving his home to follow her, but now, he wasn’t happy. She didn’t know what to do about that. She wasn’t as unhappy here as he was, but that was largely just because of him. The first few days she had been here alone had been awful, her heart broken from thinking she would never see him again. Then he had arrived, having abandoned his whole life for her, and she had thought she might finally have what other people had: a real home of her own.

But now, she didn’t know if this would work long-term. Garrett loved her, she knew. She didn’t doubt that, but she feared that would not be enough to keep him here forever. No, she had a sick feeling that within a year, maybe two at best, he would be gone. And she couldn’t even blame him.

After all, staying with her meant giving up the things normal people took for granted, like safety, public acceptance and peace of mind. He’d known that before he had ever arrived, but that wasn’t the same as living it. After living it for a time, he might feel entirely differently, she knew. So when he finally decided to leave because he realized this life with her was half a life at best, she wouldn’t talk him out of it. She would clench her teeth so hard they cracked, wish him well and free him to have a normal life.

Because she sincerely loved him, that was the only thing she could consider doing, no matter how it hurt. He would have so many more possibilities back in Mountainvale or in any city, career and personal options far better than living with a necromancer and playing farmer. If he were with anyone but her, he would be free to not just marry, but have a family. But not if he stayed with her.

With the blood she had, she might marry, but she would never condemn a child to a lifetime of potential danger. Since every little town had an apothecary or medic who sold the tincture women needed to avoid pregnancy, that was entirely up to her. So if he stayed with her, he would never be a father, even if he had always wanted children.

But because he was Garrett, he would never even question her decision, nor tell her his true feelings for fear of hurting her. So she would rob him of having not just a normal life, but even a family if they stayed together, too. Knowing that, she had made no effort to make this any more serious than it already was, because she didn’t want to trap him.

She never talked about the future like that, because she didn’t know how he felt about it, or what he might want. They had never discussed marriage or children prior to becoming involved, so she had no idea if his heart would be broken by not ever having children of his own. Nor was she willing to even ask, whether or not they were living here together.

Because once she did, she might hear things she didn’t like. Even if his words were kind, she feared what she might hear in his voice, like evasion, discomfort or even grief. So she never talked about the future beyond a single day. But it hadn’t escaped her mention that he didn’t say anything about it either, she thought as they sat down at their little kitchen table to eat once more.

She loved him and he loved her, but somehow, she just didn’t think that would be enough when it was already like this only months in. It hadn’t helped that she was finding it very hard to control her magic now, as if it no longer wanted to be dormant anymore. She did her best to ignore that warmth weaving through her that spiked each time it sensed something dead in the woods, reminding herself that they would have to run again if anyone saw, so it wasn’t worth the risk.

But sometimes, when she laid in bed, Garrett sleeping quietly next to her, she could feel her magic, reaching out hungrily through the dark woods for what it craved. Worse yet, that’s all she could feel, because there was nothing else to distract her in those late hours. She had nothing to read, no one to talk to and anywhere she might walk was not only private, but filled with dead animals just waiting for her magic to animate them.

It was like trying to stop drinking while living in a brewery, she’d found. If she quit the place completely, she could hold to her resolve. Otherwise, it was just too much temptation all the time for her to avoid it entirely. Necromancer or not, she was only human, after all.

She didn’t recall Blackwood being like this, but maybe it had been. That was years ago, after all, so maybe her memories weren’t as clear as they seemed. Or maybe using her magic to defend Mountainvale had been the equivalent of advanced training, so that now it was even more acute.

She had no idea, but either way, this was very different from living in the Warrens. The city had been filled with dead things too, some of them even bodies, but not on the grand scale that nature produced. Sometimes in those darkest hours before dawn, she would wake up suddenly, her magic surging within her like it had been trying to escape while she slept. She always gave in those nights, sneaking out while he slept through it, unaware. She wondered when he was finally going to catch her and what he would say once he did, if that would be enough to finally free him so that he could go back to resume his old life.

She should tell him now rather than wait to be caught, she knew. That was less hurtful, certainly. But to date, she simply hadn’t been able to. She didn’t like lying to him, but she was afraid she might lose him entirely once he knew the truth.

He might have accepted that she was a necromancer, but that didn’t mean he liked it, or ever wanted to be reminded of it. If he knew she was sneaking around behind his back to use her magic and then lying to him about it, he wouldn’t like it any more than she would if the situation were reversed. So using her magic wasn’t something she wanted to admit, even as she knew she would eventually be caught if she kept it up.

Are you all right?

Startled out of her thoughts, she smiled at Garrett. Of course. Just thinking I’m glad I didn’t forget the salt this time. How about you? Any thoughts?

No, I’m just tired, he replied quietly, dropping his eyes back to his bowl. But dinner’s good. You added something new, didn’t you? I can tell it’s different and I like it, but I can’t tell exactly what it is.

Sage, she agreed, trying to sound as cheerful as she could despite her true feelings. I think it adds a little something, right?

Yes, it’s very good.

She didn’t ask anything more, nor did he say anything else. She hated these weird, formal conversations they had periodically, when either one would catch the other out and ask if anything was wrong. She lied, he lied; it didn’t really matter, except that neither of them appeared willing to even discuss it.

Conversations like that were the closest she could come to asking him if he still wanted to be with her, little openings which he could take if he needed or wanted to say that. But he never did, which was somehow worse.

She didn’t want him to leave, because it would kill her when he did. But she also hated knowing that he wasn’t happy. If he would tell her what she was doing wrong or what the problem was, she could fix it. But since he wouldn’t even admit there was a problem, she didn’t know what she was supposed to do except occasionally try to ask, even if just indirectly. If she did it enough, he might even eventually answer. He hadn’t yet, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t in the future.

Once they were done eating, they washed the dishes together with the bucket of well water Garrett brought in, her washing, him drying, side by side at the sink. By the time that was done, it was dark, so they went outside to sit on the bench by the front of the house to look at the stars, as they did most clear nights since coming here. Once she was next to him, his arm settled over her shoulders as he pulled her closer. She leaned into him like she always did, grateful he was here with her.

But all she could think of when she looked up at the sky was their last night together in the Upper City. They had walked hand-in-hand under a full moon so very much like this one. He had looked so happy then, lit up with something that shone even in the dark.

Now, he didn’t look like that anymore. He was still as handsome as ever, maybe even more so, his brown hair lightened from the sun and his blue eyes so bright against his tanned skin. But some vital spark seemed to be missing, so that more often than not, he looked like he was thinking of something else, or maybe someplace else, entirely. Each time she noticed that, it made her feel sick, because it was just further proof that she had done exactly as she had originally feared: ruined his life. To his credit, he never acted like that, but she couldn’t avoid that ever-present feeling of guilt each time she noticed how subdued he was in this new life.

But the stars were beautiful here, the view just as spectacular as anything she had ever seen in Mountainvale, so she focused on that as she snuggled closer to him. His arm tightened on her shoulders, and at the gentle pressure, she reminded herself again that she would always have this time with him. No matter what, she would always be able to look back and remember perfect moments like this, even long after he was gone.

After a time, Garrett rose from the bench, taking her hand. He led her inside, right to their bed, which felt like the only safe haven they had left anymore, at least as far as Bree could tell. He was always the same here at least, she thought with relief as he kissed her heatedly. In general, they spent more time making love now than talking, possibly to replace the words he couldn’t yet say with something less hurtful. But since she would take what she could get before it all fell apart, she didn’t care.

She still wanted every last memory she could get of these months together, because she didn’t expect it to last past that. While she once would have liked to think they would at least be able to measure their time together in years, she no longer believed that. So now, if this was all she was ever going to be offered, she would take it willingly, she thought as he peeled off her blouse and his mouth came to her breasts. Someday, if she ever fell in love again, she would measure it against this. That’s how she would know, she thought as he pulled her down to the bed.

Blocking it all out, she did her best to stop thinking of the future.

Chapter 3

Marian was sitting on a bench at the inn they were staying in tonight, feeling oddly nervous the closer they came to reaching her brother and Bree. Neither of them were going to be happy, but especially not Garrett. Because of the way this had come about, he was going to feel manipulated and pressured, which never worked well with him.

She had always considered her brother not unlike the mountain they called home: as solid, unwavering and trustworthy as stone itself. He had all the wonderful qualities which came with that, like patience, loyalty and an enormous personal fortitude. But he could also be just as stubborn, pigheaded and unyielding as a rock, so she would need to be prepared for the reaction they might get.

He was going to be shocked, confused and ultimately terrified once he understood, which for Garrett likely meant some roaring. She had to be ready for that, and try to make it as painless as possible for him. But even worrying about that, she was still ready to be done with this part, no matter how her brother might react.

They had been on the road a week now, which was not the fun she had anticipated. While Mountainvale’s residents were generally in excellent shape simply from routinely climbing the stairs between levels, those were apparently different muscles than the ones used for riding. She had discovered that the first morning, arising to find her legs ached so badly she was nearly limping.

It had gotten better in the intervening days, but it had been a sobering reminder that she was now completely out of her element. Luckily, they did stay overnight in taverns and inns along their route rather than sleeping rough, at least. She was rather certain that some of Eddie’s friends might have been sleeping in the stables, just based on the sheer number of them, but they didn’t seem to care. Fortunately, Eddie didn’t appear to expect that of her, as she had been decently fed and given her own room each night, with a soft bed, at least. So that had helped somewhat.

Further complicating matters had been Alec, who had apparently decided they were good friends of the entirely platonic sort. Despite having flirted and kissed her under the guise of romantic interest in the past, now that he wasn’t attempting to manipulate her, he had no apparent interest in her physically. She tried to tell herself that was for the best, and most of the time, she believed that true. But every now and then, she had to wonder.

But she was the only one wondering, apparently, because now, he treated her just like Eddie or her brother did. He was far more courteous and diplomatic by nature than either of them could ever be, but he had that same protective, almost paternal air about him, like they were just good friends. Polite and solicitous as he was, those courtly manners entirely evident in comparison to everyone around them, she couldn’t even be annoyed, as much as disappointed. It wasn’t like she thought anything would come of their involvement, but not even having the chance to find out stung a little. He hadn’t kissed her like he was faking it, but clearly, he had been.

But even if Alec had been something of a loss, this time had been nice for her to get to know Eddie better, at least. Bree’s uncle hadn’t been any more talkative than normal, but their increased interactions had meant she had become even more fond of him, gruff or not. She understood that he was a very dangerous man, because she wasn’t stupid. As the Rat King of the Warrens, he probably had more blood on his hands than anyone she would ever meet in her entire life, she knew.

But the more time she spent with him, the more she saw the man he actually was, who was not so terrible at all, at least not to anyone undeserving. While he spoke to his men sharply at times, he was never unkind to anyone, especially not to the average people they routinely encountered in their travels, like stable-boys and barmaids. Those people, he treated with sincere respect, as did his men.

Not only was there no grabbing at the tavern wench, but there was not even any disrespectful talk about her. If she was pretty, they might mention it to one another or flirt with her when she came to their table, but they never leered or even said anything offensive, not even to each other. It was quite a surprise to her, but a very welcome one, and something she was entirely certain was because of Eddie, noting that he set the tone for them with his own behavior. He might be a criminal, but he carried himself like a businessman, she had thought more than once during their time together.

So because she actually liked the man she had observed on this trip and he appeared to feel the same about her, she had become even more fond of Mountainvale’s most notorious criminal, strange or not. By now, he actually felt like family to her, and not only that, but beloved family. She was sitting outside their latest inn and watching the dimming sky, wondering about that when the man himself sat down next to her.

Everyone else is inside having a drink. He glanced over at her. You all right?

She was touched that he had not only noticed her absence, but actually come to check on her. Yes, thank you. I was just thinking.

What about?

How Garrett might react, she said, a sigh escaping her before she continued. He’s not going to be pleased with any of us, me included. Especially once he knows that the King sent Alec after them because he resigned so soon. That’s just going to make him feel terrible, like it’s his fault. That made her wonder about something. I wonder how the King found out. Alec never said who told him.

Of course he didn’t. That’s because it was him.

Shocked, her head spun to Eddie. How do you know that? Did he tell you that?

Eddie gave her an amused look. He didn’t have to. Who else would have told him, but his spymaster? Even if one of his agents found it in the records, he still would have been the one to tell the King.

So he started all this? she asked, not sure how she felt about that. It did make sense, but at the same time, she was a little dismayed that he had one more black mark against him. This is all because of him?

Eddie shook his head sharply. No, he’s just a foot soldier. The King is the one who started it all, coming after her. I don’t care who told him. That doesn’t matter. What matters is that once he knew, he wasn’t willing to leave her alone.

But Alec told him, she replied, stuck on that detail, appalling as it was. And he never said a thing. All this time, he’s been lying to me about that, too.

Would it have changed your opinion of him?

Of course it would have, she replied, confused about why he would even ask something so obvious.

So if I tell you that I tied him to a chair and put a bag over his head before I tortured him, would you feel differently about me, as well? Eddie asked, his expression indifferent, like he didn’t care either way.

She was shocked. You tortured him?

Not really. I just smacked him around a little before I lost patience with him. I had planned on torturing him to get him to talk. But when I saw that tattoo, I just poisoned him instead. When she simply looked at him, her mouth hanging open, he shrugged. Almost lost him, too. Stubborn bastard could barely swallow by the time we were force-feeding him the antidote.

Why are you telling me this? she asked, now completely lost and more than a little horrified.

Because I’ve told you before that you wandered into a big game here, he replied, his voice flat. I wasn’t lying. Your boy and I play the kind of games where people die. That’s just how it is, and it won’t change anytime soon. He told the King about your brother, and might even have killed him and Bree when he found them, too. When I caught him, if he hadn’t been marked with her crest, I would have cut the truth out of him instead. Then he’d likely be dead now, no matter who he was to her. He and I know that’s just how it goes. It’s not personal. It’s just business.

Then why didn’t Alec just admit that? she wondered aloud, still stuck on that detail as she was. Why didn’t he just tell me that it was all a horrible misunderstanding, where he only knew part of the truth?

Eddie gave her an amused look. Setting aside that his orders might have been fatal for your brother, which is not something he would want to tell you, your boy’s family has been tied to hers for generations. Long enough to have a reputation as loyal spymasters to the Ravenhursts. Now he finds out he was hunting the very one he’s supposed to protect. If he hadn’t found out, who knows how that might have gone.

As she was still thinking about that, Eddie smiled, but it was not a nice expression.

Wait, just for the record, let me clarify that. I know how that would have gone, at least. Your boy may be tough, but she’s a Warrens rat I trained myself. No contest there. Despite the size difference, Bree would have turned your boy into cheesecloth. But he doesn’t know that, so I’d imagine the guilt is eating at him something fierce.

Maybe you should talk to him about it then, she suggested quietly, ignoring the way he kept referring to the other man as hers, like he was her pet or something. There was no point getting into that now, absurd as it was. Help him feel better about it.

Why would I do that? Eddie replied, looking at her like she was talking nonsense.

Because it’s kind, she suggested. That’s always a good reason.

But I’ve already told you that I’m not kind, he replied mildly. So he’s on his own. None of my business, anyway. That’s between him and Bree. If the guilt is killing him, that’s too bad. He won’t die before we get there. He’ll live long enough to confess.

You might have a point about not being kind, she gently teased. But I can’t swear this is proof, since I can see your point about it being none of our business, as well.

Your boy’s got a family tradition past what most might have. When she glanced over at him curiously, Eddie’s expression was just as blank as it usually was. Lot of lore goes with it.

How do you know? she asked, fascinated.

I have contacts all over, he replied, turning his head to give her that amused look once more before his eyes slid back to the sky. People talk. Sometimes they drop by the Warrens for a visit. I’ve heard the Reegan name more than once over the years.

So what did you hear?

That they’ve been tied to the Ravenhursts for generations, since one found them trying to pick her pockets. He glanced away from the sky long enough to see she was clearly curious before he continued. Instead of having them arrested, she hired them to guard her from other pickpockets. By the time she took the throne, the Reegan clan was right by her side. They’ve been there ever since.

How long ago was that?

Eddie shrugged. Three, four hundred years ago, or thereabouts, maybe? I don’t really know. I didn’t get that much history, not enough to know dates. You could ask your boy. Bet he knows.

Why do you keep calling him that? she asked, doing her best to sound merely curious, rather than offended. There is absolutely nothing going on between us and you know that.

Yet.

What is that supposed to mean?

Now, now, don’t start hissing at me, Eddie replied, his tone bland. That’s all I’ll say on it.

Well, that’s one more word than it even needs. She huffed slightly, making her opinion of his prediction obvious. There is not enough alcohol in the world for that, thank you very much.

Eddie actually chuckled, which was a rare and welcome sight. Ah, Marian, you are too much. I’m glad you came along. It just wouldn’t have been the same without you.

Thank you. She smiled at him, genuinely touched. I feel exactly the same. Knowing his feeling on excessive sentiment, she did her best to change the subject. So tomorrow we’ll collect the people you’ve had watching the roads around them, then we’ll be there. Then comes convincing them.

She realized she was unconsciously wringing her hands from anxiety and stopped, even as she kept them clasped together. Breathing deeply, she did her best to calm herself as she continued.

I know we’ve gone over this before, but just tell me one more time how this will all work. She lifted her head to meet Eddie’s eyes. And what we’re going to do if it doesn’t.

His expression softening as he nodded, Eddie started to talk.

Chapter 4

Alec backed even farther away from the bench, confident Marian had no idea he was there. Eddie would have known, of course, the kind of experience he had. A man like that, he had likely only survived this long because he was always watching his back. But Marian would never have considered he might be lurking in the deepening shadows, eavesdropping.

Accordingly, as he had heard said about eavesdropping upon occasion, he did not hear anything nice about himself this time. In fact, just the opposite, as Marian had scoffed that she’d have to be drunk to have anything to do with him. He was sure Eddie had enjoyed that, having goaded her into it. So of course she had nothing positive to say. Alec just wished he could be certain that it had been only because of who she was talking to, and not a measure of her true feelings.

He had been more than a little dismayed when Eddie had blithely announced to her that he was the one who had started it all by telling the King about the discrepancies he had noted in the records. That was something he had not admitted to anyone, not even the Rat King, because he hated knowing he’d been used like that to nearly betray his family legacy. But of course the other man had figured it out, because it was hardly a secret as much as a matter of common sense. When Eddie had also told her about his family, it had been obvious that he knew a good deal more than he had ever let on.

But oddly enough, Eddie had even defended him to Marian by his explanation, which he sincerely appreciated as one professional to another. What the other man had said was entirely true, but likely not something he ever would have stated so bluntly to her. Phrased like that, it reflected poorly on him, because it did not even begin to cover the most important aspect of his role as spymaster, which