Once our feet were on the ground and I untangled myself from Moreno's arms and the harness, I took a look around where we'd landed. There were still leagues of white clouds around, but there were also houses and hundreds of massive trees.

We followed a paved path through the trees. The air was fresh and sweet. The trees themselves were sixty feet tall and in full bloom.

Moreno seemed to know exactly where we were going. We passed several massive farmhouses with strange animals behind fence pens. I saw bright red cows and a pen of some colorful birds. There was even what looked like a unicorn pawing the ground beside a large barn.

A giant herding golden sheep with a two-headed dog glanced at us and started moving faster. The dog growled and barked in our direction.

"Sorry, milord," the giant said. "But you're scaring the animals."

"We'll give your regards to the manor," Moreno said briskly.

Moreno's long legs picked up a quicker pace. I didn't know why we couldn't fly the last length, but we needed to get to the Ethesis manor.

We passed about five more farms before the orchards of trees opened up, and we approached the biggest house I'd ever seen. It was a massive Roman-looking villa the height of a skyscraper.

Half a dozen men in plated golden armor stood outside the door. The one in front glared at us and pulled a sword from his side.

"State your business, halfants," he spat as he towered a head taller than us.

Moreno stiffened. "Lord Ethesis and guest to see Lady Hellene for an expected visit."

The man frowned, but Moreno stared him down. I wasn't sure what we should do. That sword was making me nervous, especially because it reminded me of the one my grandfather pulled in my vision.

The door of the villa behind the guards opened. The young woman who swept through the door wore a silver dress with coins sewn into the skirt that jingled as she walked. Her skin was rosy and bright against her long honey-blonde hair.

Her cold blue eyes looked between us and the guard. She was a full head and a half taller than the guards, the tallest of whom barely came up to her chest.

"Lady Genevieve," the guard said. "I'm getting rid of these intruders."

"Sir Sudama, they were invited today," Genevieve threw back her head proudly. "Allow my cousin and his friend to pass."

"Lady Genevieve, I must protest," the guard said. "I do not know these human bloods, and I am sure the king would not want his son consorting with such riffraf."

Genevieve stiffened. Her pink lips pursed, and she stared down the guard with her arms crossed. I got the feeling that Genevieve didn't take no for an answer.

"Moreno, take the girl inside," her voice was a command, not a request. "Sir Sudama, I suggest you actually do your job and access for threats."

The guard, Sir Sudama, didn't stop us as we followed Genevieve into the villa. Once we were inside, Moreno showed me where to leave my shoes beside the door, and several giants the size of the guards outside brought water and washed our feet.

Genevieve waited patiently as a giant woman scrubbed at my bare feet with a sponge. I didn't mind the custom even though the water was cold. When the giant was done, she produced a fluffy towel and dried my feet off before backing out of the room.

"Do you need refreshments?" Genevieve asked.

It seemed more like a formal offer than genuine concern. Nothing about Genevieve's face radiated warmth or hospitality. She looked at Moreno as if he was something rotten she'd stepped on with her bare feet.

"I think you interfering with the guards is the nicest thing you've ever done for me, Genie," Moreno smiled.

"Andi suggested I fetch you since the guards didn't want Wolfe to leave Victor's presence," Genevieve said. "They are all upstairs waiting."

"Lady Andromeda and Lord Wolfe are here?" Moreno's smirk faded.

Genevieve nodded. I was curious if giants with cerulean eyes were more common since the longer I looked at the giant, I realized the blue in her eyes matched my own.

"Is that a good thing?" I asked.

Moreno looked troubled. "It's interesting. It seems that you're about to make an impression on more than just your uncle, Terri."

We followed Genevieve past the foyer and up a flight of metal stairs. All of the furniture and walls were patterned in silver with splashes of dark gray. At the top of the stairs, Genevieve turned right and led us into a brightly polished sitting room with large windows letting in natural light.

Two guards in golden armor stood in the doorway. I looked past them into the gorgeous room. There were two long couches adorned with silver pillows. And an ornate silver chair beside a table lain with tea.

On the first sat two women who were younger than Genevieve but not older than I was. The first had rosey skin like Genevieve and one bronze eye like Moreno, but the other was a pale green. Her hair was in perfect ringlets, rose gold, and so shiny it looked metallic. She wore a silver dress like Genevieve, and a dozen thin metal bracelets jingled on her arms.

The other girl had deep brown skin and emerald green hair pushed into a poof. She wore a simple down of pure white. Her hazel eye and metallic gray eye were fixed on a man who sat on the other couch with lighter brown skin and a buzz cut. He wore an orange tunic and pants embroidered with sword patterns. His left eye was silver, while the right was an unassuming brown.

The group's final member was a tan young man in his early twenties with inky dark hair. He wore a militaristic uniform woven from gold with white buttons. His eyes matched mine, and I knew at once that this was my uncle, Crown Prince Victor Nikone.

"Our guests have arrived," Genevieve said.

"Splendid," the rose-gold-haired girl rose to her feet. "Moreno, it's so good to see you."

Unlike her sister, Hellene beamed from ear to ear. Her bracelets jingled as she moved, and she ran forward to embrace Moreno. He stood there as stiff as a board and endured his cousin almost twice his height, giving him a huge hug. 

When Hellene stepped back, she took me in. Her full rose-colored lips parted, and she smiled at me, showing pearly white teeth.

"You must be Theresa," she said. "I'm Hellene Ethesis. Welcome to our home."

"Lene, you cannot be so casual," Genevieve said. "You are a lady and the betrothed of the prince."

The prince shifted in his seat. "Genie, swustor, please relax and sit. They are my guests as much as yours."

Genevieve conceded to the prince and took the seat on the couch beside the man in orange. Hellene moved back to her seat, and Moreno and I stepped towards the group of giants.

"You are safe here," the prince said. "These are my closest companions and confidants. You just met my intended, the Lady Hellene. Beside her are your cousin Lady Andromeda Babilyn and her intended  Lord Wolfe Phillipus. You've already met Hellene's sister, Lady Genevieve."

"This is Theresa Oakeley," Moreno said. "Although I am sure she would prefer you all call her Terri."

"Only if you call me Victor," the prince said. "Hellene, if you could draw them chairs."

She smiled and waved her hand. Two chairs from the other side of the room floated through the air and landed behind us. When I sat, I realized the chairs were made of metal.

"Hellene is the first Ethesis in two hundred years to have the gift of magnetism," Moreno muttered under his breath as he sat beside me.

If I hadn't had several visions and seen Hellene move the chairs with my own eyes, I would have thought that my eyes were playing tricks on me.

Even though I'd been told other magic gifts were nonexistent, I guessed the heterochromia in four of the giants in the room marked them all as magical in one way or another. No wonder they were all hanging out with the crown prince.

"Your royal Highness, this meeting is highly irregular," Wolfe shifted uncomfortably. "As I said before, this meeting between you and your niece is a high target for attack."

"It is necessary," Victor said. "I'm tired of my father trying to erase my sister's actions, and Terri has the family gift. It's not like my father will teach her how to dip into the well properly."

"He's right," Andromeda's voice was sultry. "If you don't like it, Wolfe, you can guard the front gate with the golden goons."

Wolfe grumbled, but he didn't rise to move. I pondered what his gift was, but I had a feeling he wasn't about to reveal it.

"How much do you know about the Nikone family, Terri?" Victor asked.

I blinked. "My mother and grandfather are in some kind of power struggle for the throne. You're the heir. What else should I know?"

"Start with the direct heirs to the throne," Andromeda said. "King Tytan rules the country. Felicia is his wife. Tytan killed his father and was the only son of King Stormos V. Tytan has three legitimate children, and since Victor is his only son, he's the heir due to the country's extraordinarily sexist laws."

That surprised me. I certainly hadn't expected a giant noble to stand against the laws of Jontun. No one disagreed with her or reprimanded her, which was odd since I was sure my grandfather, the king, might say otherwise.

"And if she weren't a narcissistic sociopath, I'd gladly allow my sister the throne," Victor said. "Unfortunately, she'd ruin Jontun, and her supporters would out us to humans and have us hunted again to extinction to prove we're the superior species."

"That's bad," I said.

Victor nodded. "I'm not even sure Ellenora cares about the cause. She'll say anything to get supporters. She's always been that way. I'm glad the halfants have kept you far away from her. She wants me dead, and I'm not convinced she wouldn't kill you, too."

I shivered. "I saw her in a vision."

"I know," he said. "Everyone who has the power sees every vision. Whatever you summon, the other seers can see, too. Sometimes it lacks clarity or isn't fully formed, but there isn't a way to use our power without alerting the other seers."

"How many of us are there?" I asked.

"My father, myself, Ellenora, and you," Victor said. "My father claims that the more there are, the weaker the power becomes. He's furious that you're a seer."

"He's going to kill me, isn't he," I said.

"I saw that, too," Victor grimaced. "I know my father isn't perfect, but I've talked to him. He's more worried about Ellenora. She's the one who wants to use you. As long as you have no intentions for the throne, I can protect you."

I sighed. "I don't even want to be a princess. I definitely don't want the throne. I don't even want to meet my mother."

"I saw the two of you meet," Victor said. "That's probably going to happen, but you can prepare. You're a halfant and a Nikone. That's warrior blood in your veins."

I stared at Victor. I knew halfants trained, but I didn't know what the Nikones and those associated with the house did.

"You want me in golden armor like your buddies or something?" I asked.

Moreno raised an eyebrow. "Those who serve the Nikone house are arbiters and peacekeepers. They enforce the laws on behalf of the king."

"I want you safe," Victor said. "You didn't ask for this war. Unfortunately, we all have roles to come in the events before us."

A question itched in my mind. "Can we change the future?"

Victor's smile faded. "It's possible because the future is ever-changing. Andromeda's mother, my sister Savannah, once described the way my father and Ellenora see the future as playing speed chess and seeing the sixth move of ten without the other moves."

"She always says it's a curse, and she's glad she didn't inherit the gene," Andromeda said. "I didn't tell her that Terri would be here. She's still mad that Grandfather Tytan made her get married as a distraction from Ellenora's pregnancy."

"I'm happy to teach you what I can," Victor said. "But seeing the future is dangerous. We've all seen things we regret."

"What have you seen?" I asked.

Victor tensed. "I've seen the deaths of everyone I love more times than I care to admit. My father and sister won't stop their war. Eventually, it's going to kill one of them. That is certain. It's just a matter of who kills whom."

Hey friends!! This was a fun chapter where I got to introduce some fun new giants. So, what do you think of Terri's new uncle? What do you want Terri to ask him next? Until next time!!