I woke to shouts from outside the room. I couldn't make out words, but I bolted out of Moreno's bed and realized I was still wearing the clothes Gayle had made. My face probably had smeared makeup like a clown, and I couldn't see Moreno anywhere.

The noise got louder as I made my way towards the kitchen. Finally, I found Alana in the lobby with her arms crossed. Moreno was at her side, looking belligerently at two new people who didn't look older than they were.

I recognized them from the portrait in Moreno's room. Ezra Meager was a squat, stocky, black half-giant with his silver-streaked hair braided back tightly. He scowled at Moreno and Alana.

Beside him stood Ashton Sim-Jones, who resembled Granman and Doc but had her hair undercut and pulled into a ponytail with an elastic. The short part was cobalt, and the rest was midnight black with one blue streak in the middle, leaving me to wonder if it was natural or dyed. She had several piercings on her face and a sleeve of tattoos down her arm.

"Absolutely not," Alana said. "I'm in charge here, Ashton. What I say goes."

"You cannot send her alone," Ashton said. "And one guard is far too little."

"You're not going," Alana said. "Terri can handle herself. Moreno trained her himself."

Ashton scoffed. "I saw that clearly doctored footage. Like an untrained human-raised girl like her could actually perform like she'd trained her whole life. It can't be possible that she matched Pennal's score on her first try with knives."

"Try me," I said.

I wasn't just going to stand here and listen to them talk about me. All four of them turned to stare at me as if they were the four horsemen of the apocalypse. I supposed to the halfants they were—the prodigies meant to take over when the old guard retired.

"Tell me she's not going to Ethesis like that." Ezra's voice was deep. "My grandfather would never approve of that."

Alana turned back to face Ezra. "Bryan isn't here. I'm sure Terri is going to clean up. You weren't going to leave for Ethesis for another half an hour, Ezra."

My brain paused for a moment to process that because I was sure that they'd said only nobles could enter another noble's house. "He's coming with me to Ethesis?"

"My grandfather is Bryan," Ezra said, as if he were explaining something to a toddler. "He runs this compound, and he's also the only living descendant of Duke Japhros Phillipus."

My jaw dropped. I'd seen the noble title on Bryan's door. I knew he was a part of the Phillipus House, but I hadn't realized that he was the son of the jailer of Gorgon's Keep.

"Not that you're titled," Alana said quickly. "But it's slightly more credit than sending Abel. Terri, you can get cleaned up, and Ezra can wait for you here."

I understood what Alana was trying to do, and I took the cue to leave. I took the fastest shower I could manage, and then I found the golden jumpsuit from my last visit to the Ethesis manor. It felt weird to wear the same outfit twice, but Moreno had said that nobles always wore their colors. I toweled my hair the best I could and braided back my damp hair. There was a little makeup in my vanity and I used concealer on the bags under my eyes before I swiped a little mascara over my eyelids.

There was a knock at my door. A moment later, it burst open, and Ezra stood there with Moreno behind him. Neither looked happy, but Moreno grimaced further as Ezra entered my room. Ezra crossed his arms, and I noticed the gauntlets on his halfant uniform were orange instead of bronze.

"We need to leave," he said.

"You leave her alone, Ezra," Moreno said. "She's been through enough. No risks, and if she comes back with so much as a scratch, I'll make sure you breathe through a straw."

Ezra smirked. "Is the princess here something to you? Impressive that you've finally learned to chase power just like a noble."

"Stop it," I snapped. "I can kick your butt as well as he can."

Ezra turned on me. "Now that I'd like to see. I didn't realize Moreno was teaching you how to spar. That I'll have to see since Phillipus is the House of Strength."

Moreno snorted. "You're not strong like Japthos, Ezra. I've wiped the floor clean with you before, and I can do it again."

Ezra grimaced, and I stepped before the boys before this could develop any further. I was starting to understand why Alana and Moreno thought Ashton and Ezra were insufferable. They had big, tough personas and used their big names to push everyone else around.

"Can you even fight in that outfit if you're attacked?" Ezra asked.

I threw my braid over my shoulder. "Princesses don't wear armor."

Then I walked past the boys and to the kitchen to grab something to eat before we took off. Alana nodded at me as I pulled a breakfast bar from the kitchen cabinet and poured herself a cup of coffee. She looked exhausted, but she wasn't going to stop until we found Carisma or she dropped.

"Anything goes wrong, and you fly away," she said. "We can't afford to lose you too if we have any chance of recovering, Carisma."

I nodded. "Have you figured out which way Gayle went?"

Alana shrugged. "Emma is working on her ground-side contacts. Kaleb confirmed she didn't buy a bus ticket on that tablet, so we just know what she was looking at. Emma's been tracking giants through Earth her whole life. She'll find Gayle sooner or later."

I nodded. They would find Gayle. I had the easy job. Well, not easy. I had to tell one of the most powerful families in Jontun that the little girl they didn't want as a part of their family was missing. At worst, they'd tell me they didn't care. At best... well, I wasn't exactly sure.

"I really should go with you." Moreno's voice behind me made me jump.

He stood in the doorway. At some point, he'd changed into halfant gear, and he'd pulled his hair out of his face. There was stubble on his chin, and he looked like a warrior ready for battle.

"You're grounded," Alana said. "No wings and no leaving the compound."

"You're trusting Ezra with her safety over me?" Moreno cracked his knuckles.

"No," Alana said. "I don't trust that you'll do something idiotic and potentially cuss out your family. You're staying put."

She gave me a knowing look. Moreno was a brewing storm. She was right about that. That meant it was time for me to do a few things that only my princess status allowed.

"I'll be fine." I walked over and kissed his cheek. "Trust me, Moreno."

"Don't call me that," he said.

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Never mind," he said. "Stay safe, Princessa."

Once I was in the sky, I was still pondering what Moreno said. He didn't want me to call him by his name. It reminded me of that vision I had with Victor when I'd seen us kiss. I'd called him Jordan then.

Ezra flew with a sense of urgency. It took all of my skill to keep up with him. He watched the ground like a hawk assessing threats, and occasionally, his fingers would flex to his weapon's belt as if he were thinking about an attack.

I recognized the way to the Ethesis manor this time. Ezra didn't drop down to walk the final stretch like Moreno. He led us straight to the front door of the house, and we landed right outside.

I heard a bell clanging in the distance. There weren't any golden guards at the door of the Ethesis manor this time. The Roman-style villa seemed busy, and giants rushed outside as if in response to the bell. Two giants dressed in silver dresses led us inside, and once again, I endured having my shoes removed and washed by strangers.

No one spoke to us. It was as if the giants were terrified. They looked at one another with panicked expressions and worked as fast as they could to dry our feet, and another giant offered a plate of refreshments.

A giantess walked into the foyer with a sense of purpose. She wore a beautiful chiton of white and silver. Her face had aged gracefully, and I didn't think she was older than sixty, but it was hard to tell with giants. They aged slower than humans. Her hair was all silver, in contrast to her olive complexion.

"Duchess Vasalisa," Ezra bowed.

"Halfants?" The Duchess frowned. "My servants must have hit the wrong bell. Why are you here?"

Ezra straightened. "Our business concerns your family."

There were footsteps behind him and I could see Hellene and Genevieve followed by two giant boys I didn't know who looked slightly older than the girls. Duchess Vasalisa didn't turn but looked down at us with worry.

Vasalisa frowned. "I hate to ask, but I assume this has to do with my grandson."

"Grandmother," the oldest giant stepped forward. "What should we do?"

"Achilles," Vasalisa said. "I will take care of this. Take your siblings upstairs."

"Terri," Hellene said. "Where is Moreno? Why isn't he with you?"

"We need to go," Genevieve said, holding her sister back.

"Moreno is fine," I said. "That's now why I'm here."

Achilles and Genevieve pulled Hellene back. I had a feeling that the giantess wanted to throw her siblings back, but she allowed the bigger giants to lead her away. When they were gone, the duchess turned back to face us.

"Where is my grandson?" She asked. "What do you have to say about my family?"

She had genuine concern on her face. I knew Moreno had talked badly about his grandfather, but he hadn't mentioned his grandmother. Were they close? Did she care about her half-human grandchildren? After all, she wasn't a pure-blooded noble.

"This is news you might want to take sitting down," I said.

The Duchess looked me up and down. I remember Moreno said she was not a noble by birth, and the allowance for her to marry into the Ethesis house was an irregularity. Would that make her receiving us a hindrance or a blessing?

"You must be Theresa Oakeley," Vasalisa said. "I suppose that would warrant the royal tone. If you will follow me to the main office, we'll need to speak to my husband."

Hello friends!!! I hope everyone is doing well. What do you think of Ashton and Ezra? How will the halfants find Gayle and Carisma? Let me know your thoughts and theories. Until next time!!