Katie's Hope

Katie clenched her jaw, realizing just how sugar-coated the Immortals' world around her would look to her sister. Gio appeared in the doorway. He caught sight of them and crossed to Hannah. He appeared more unsettled than Katie had ever seen him. His gaze was roving, and his air distracted even as he bent to give Hannah a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll catch up with you later, love," he said. "I've got some business to attend to with the other Immortals."

"Of course, my Gio," Hannah said sweetly. "I'll be with Katherine, if you need to find me." Gio's tight smile was fleeting. Katie wondered what had called him away-- news of the demons in the forest or some other awful plan by Kris? She watched him go, frowning when he turned left down the hall toward the front door rather than right to the stairwell or interior of the castle.

"Excuse me, sis," she said, rising. "Just tell one of the waiters what you want to drink." Hannah was happy to marvel over her surroundings. Katie moved quickly through the room, refusing to meet the gaze of any of the Immortals. She emerged into the hallway in time to see a butler open the main door for Gio.

She trotted after him and stepped into the evening chill. The hidden sun was setting, and the white snow clouds glowed eerily, lit by the last rays of light. Hannah's fiancé hurried to the waiting Hummer. Hannah's Louis Vuitton luggage was lined up neatly along the path, and Katie skirted it.

"Gio!" she called. "Where are you going?"

"Katherine," he replied, turning. "You will have to forgive me. Assure Hannah this was not my idea."

"What wasn't your idea?"

"Kris asked me to bring her here. He thought she might be an Ancient's mate like you." "Okay, so why are you leaving her?"

Gio hesitated before sighing. "He asked me to. He granted me a position directly supporting the Council, if I walked away from her forever."

"So you traded her for your ego," Katie said and crossed her arms.

"The Immortal society is not like a human's, Katherine," he scolded. "You cannot marry into a higher rung on the ladder. You can only be granted special status by someone in a caste far above you."

"Don't you care about hurting her feelings?"

"Hannah used me to climb the social ladder, and I did not mind, because she is a beautiful, sweet girl," he said. "I, in turn, used her to climb the Immortal ladder."