Tressa swore Stacia's eyes blinked a few times too many. They both knew some had emerged and survived. Stacia killed one and she didn't know about Tressa's father's encampment. If Stacia wasn't willing to tell even her elite guard about it, then Tressa had hope they could still succeed.
"But today something has changed. The fog has fallen."
A lump of air caught in Tressa's throat. She held her lips tight, refusing to let out the surprise. She had so many questions, too many to ask without looking suspicious. Her heart raced, but she continued practicing the breathing Leo had taught her.
"I need half of you to ride out with the army. Kill anyone who emerges."
"But, your highness, there's no one to kill. The town of Hutton's Bridge only has ghosts for residents. No one could survive in the fog," Edgar said.
Stacia rolled her eyes. "I do not fear ghosts. Nor should you. You must protect our borders from the other kingdoms. One of them did this, found a way past the boundary. Ride out. Gather intelligence. Kill anyone who puts up a fight."
Five men, all wolves, stepped forward in unison. "We volunteer to lead the army into battle."
Stacia briefly bowed her head. "I accept. Your bravery will not go unnoticed."
The five men left the room. Only Tressa, Jarrett, Henry, and two others remained.
"I need the remainder of you as my private guards. I want two of you stationed outside my door every hour of the day. No one comes or goes without my express permission. You may assume we are at war. With who, I don't know. Until we have that answer, trust no one. I want one in my chambers with me at all times. Two outside my door and two to rest and then rotate in." Stacia pointed one fingernail at Jarrett. "I want you with me first. The rest of you may leave. Rotate in four hours."
Tressa opened the doors and shuffled out. Her heart was torn. She desperately wanted to ride out with the others and see if her town was safe. It was possible they'd done something to collapse the fog. Or maybe it was Bastian and her father. No matter who did it. Her people were in danger and she was stuck defending the one person she wanted to kill.
"Let Henry and I take the first rest." Tressa grabbed his sleeve and yanked. "We only got in to our beds a few minutes ago. I can't stay awake and I'm sure he's exhausted too."
Henry nodded and flashed a brilliant smile. "Too many high class whores last night. Not the nit-infested whelps you boys toyed with. See you in a few hours."
The men glared at them as Tressa and Henry walked away. She could feel their anger like a knife to the back. They walked in silence back to their chamber.
"I'm glad you're feeling better, but you don't have to be an ass about it," Tressa said.
Henry raised his eyebrows. "I'm second prince in line to the Yellow Throne. I can say what I want, when I want to. You're just a silly girl, pretending to be a boy." He reached out one hand, grabbing at her chest. "I can't even feel your boobs. You do have them, don't you?"
Tressa knocked his arm to the side. "Don't ever touch me like that again or I'll do more than block you."
"I'm not afraid of a girl." Henry rolled his eyes.
"You should be afraid of this one."
"Where I come from, women are only for cooking, cleaning, and whoring. They are our servants." He looked her up and down, disgusted. "They don't chop off their hair or pretend to be men. They stay quiet and spread their legs when we tell them to. Admit it. You want me, even now." He stood tall, his hands on his hips, golden hair swinging just above his shoulders.
"The only part of me that wants to touch your crotch is my knee. Now lay down and get some sleep until we can talk to Jarrett. Stacia is without half of her guard. We may be able to finally do what we've all come here for."
Henry sat on his bed. He yanked his boots off one by one and tossed them at the edge of Tressa's bed. Without another word, he laid on the duck feather mattress.
Tressa settled down on her bed and didn't relax until she could hear Henry's signature snoring. Instead she thought about Bastian and wished there was some way she could get word to him or her father. Until Jarrett came to relieve them, there was nothing she could do.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Bastian's lips fell on Tressa's in a heated embrace. Her back arched, shivers ran up and down her spine. It had been so long, too long, since he'd wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him.
Before she could open her eyes, he abruptly pulled away.
"Get off of her!"
Tressa sat up, rubbing her eyes. Henry lay sprawled on the floor and Jarrett stood over him. She shook her head, then realized what had been going on.
"If anyone had seen you kissing what they think is another man, we'd have a whole host of problems on our hands."