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"Hu You really think you’re one of them"

"No I don’t I know I’ toward the cave

I walk away, but Evangeline won’t leave ood that you’re here with your own kind You’ll coh," she says

"Will you just piss off?"

"Oh tehen up if you want to survive around here Darklings don’t have time for human emotions"

"How can you live with them? They’re vile," I say, my voice choked

They’re not what I expected at all They’re nothing like ood care of me He looks after all the twin-bloods"

"There are more of us here?" My curiosity is piqued

She takes er flares inside e of Natalie pops into o of Evangeline’s hand

She leads , which reeks of decay

"What is this place?" I ask

"The hospital," she says

We go to a ward on the first floor Evangeline silently waits by the door as I take in the scene Rows of metal beds are crammed into the roos infected with Wrath Each one is at a different stage of the disease So hair, while others are at the end-stages, just like Mo flesh hits my nostrils and bile rises up my throat

"There used to be one hundred and forty-three of us," Evangeline explains "The Wrath spread through the ghetto so quickly; first the Darklings got sick, then the twin-bloods We hoped they’d be okay, because they’re part human, but" She shakes her head "There wasn’textinct, Ash"

My throat chokes up I knein-bloods were rare, but I never realized it was this bad With no ation, it’ll just be ood care of us," Evangeline says "She nursed the sick ones, despite the risks to herself I helped out as best I could"

"Weren’t you worried about getting infected?" I ask

Evangeline gazes down at the ground "I already am"

"You don’t look sick"

"I have a natural immunity to the effects of the Wrath We’re not sure why I’m different from the other twin-bloods," she says "I’h, so I can pass it on"

She doesn’t have to explain that any further When Darklings eline will never be able to do that; not with a Darkling, anyway

"I’ur thinksa vaccine recently with the lis "We don’t know The Wrath’s otten worse so surrounded by hetto, passing burned-out, ruined buildings Unlike the buildings on my side of the wall, these ones are covered in ivy and white flowers that are abundant with dark blue berries, giving the whole place an otherworldly beauty Evangeline notices rew the flowers to make this place a littlehave you been here?" I ask

"Since I was eight years old Sigur foundto death," she says "He brought reat protector"

"He let his niece die the other day," I say

"He can’t save us all, even though he tries"

The thought of Jana on the cross with Tom, executed because of their forbidden relationship, reminds me of Natalie My heart thuds ba-booht now Being here just makes me feel more of an outcast than ever before It’s clear I’s When I’eline surprisesa hand over my chest "How is this possible?"

"I found my Blood Mate," I say

She looks surprised

"You don’t believe e

"I believe you It’s just there aren’t s over your side of the wall I’ them"

I wonder if I should tell her that eline, but an instinct deep inside eline drops her hand "The connection only happens between Darklings She can’t be your Blood Mate"

"All the evidence proves otherwise"

"What’s the human’s name, then?" Her voice is hard

I rub the back ofto tell her, that hter, Natalie Buchanan? I don’t think so

"Does it matter?" I say instead

"You can’t be with her You can’t turn your back on your own kind, Ash"

"I’ my back on anyone I’irl? Why does everyone say I’?"

"Because it’s against the law," she says