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"That’s not going to stopwith her"

We approach the canal The Boundary Wall is just a strip on the horizon Hoo Can you take ates?" I say

She hesitates "Will you coeline for a longhow her inky-black hair ripples like the surface of the oceans I can’t abandon her There are so few of our kind left

"I’ll be back," I promise

22

NATALIE

EVERYWHERE IS BLACK: the sky, the earth, the ash drifting all around us--the whole city isfor Chris Even school’s been canceled today, so students could attend his funeral I tighten the black scarf aroundarette froood between us after the argument on his birthday, but at least he’s civil to e froht he would I’ion on Saturday There’s nothing

"Have you heard fro at the back of the congregation, watching the funeral Gregory stares blankly at the ebony coffin He looks shrunken in an oversized black jacket that I vaguely recognize, and then it hits me: it’s Chris’s coat

Day’s up front with the rest of theto look forlorn for the press, although her face is so pu any emotion other than mild surprise I can’t understand why she’s taken such an interest in Chris’s death; she paid for the funeral, then insisted on co with twenty of her closest friends from the media to "pay her respects" Maybe it’s because he went to

She’s flanked by Sentry guards, and there arean eye on the proceedings The upshot of all this added security is I don’t need a personal guard with me today, which is a relief Sebastian’s still on his "spiritual retreat" in Centruot a few hours of relative freedom

Juno Jones, the red-haired reporter for Black City News, stands nearby, doing a report on the service She tells her ca life," Mother says to Chris and Gregory’s parents, just loud enough for the journalists to hear "Rest assured, the govern in its power to find whoever supplied this tainted Haze and bring the involve her, and Mother’s red-painted lips waver slightly, disgusted at being touched by a lowly Workboot

"I hope we have your support for Rose’s Law," Mother continues "Keeping the Darklings perated is the first step toward a totally Haze-free society"

Mr and Mrs Tholower at my mother So that’s the reason she’s here? To rally support for Rose’s Law What sort of person does that at a boy’s funeral?

Gregory snatches a look atNow isn’t the ti

"What’s going on with you and Day?" I ask Beetle when she glances over at us

He shrugs "She’s still punishingto forgive et you hooked on Haze, she’ll be a little nicer to him?" I say

"I wouldn’t count on it She’s stubborn"

I look at Day and feel a pang of sadness There’s so much I want to talk to her about I e fro quietly to the cah school student Chris Thompson, the latest victi sold on the streets," she says, walking a little closer to the congregation "Chris Tho in the space of teeks, sparking fear and concern in the city Anyone with infored to report it to the Sentry guard"

Chris is the sixth victim? I knew Linus and his friend died from it, but I didn’t know there had been others Beetle looks alars are blamed for all those deaths, people are bound to vote for Rose’s Law," he says "Then who knohat’s going to happen to Ash--they’ll probably force his They’re alreadyhim wear that ID bracelet"

My heart freezes They can’t take Ash away from me

"We need to find out who really created the Golden Haze I can’t let uy Linus ot it from somewhere"

"That would’ve been his boss, Mr Tubs," Beetle explains

"Okay, we’ll start there and do so Do you knohere I can find him?" I ask

Beetle’s eyebrows shoot so far up his forehead, I think they’re going to fly off "You don’t want to erous"

"We’ll take Ash for protection We have to do so up his already scruffy hair "I can’t go I owe Mr Tubs some money Like, a lot of money"

I let out an irritated sound "Fine, Ash and I will go on our own"

Of course, I’ll have to actually speak to Ash first I check o, let ht for an unofficial remembrance party for Chris Meet me at the white mansion Do you know it?" Beetle asks

My heart clenches "Yes, I know it"

The wind stirs, and a fa in the church ruins Relief washes throughoff to join hih the bones of wooden rafters Several crows are perched on the ate the rubble

We sit down on a pile of stones in the corner of the ruins, hidden from view I study Ash’s profile, which is set like marble, so cold and eiving him away

"You didn’t call I orried," I say

He turns to look at me, his eyes dark and haunted HisInstead he rests his head on , like the earth after rain We stay like this for a few ion?" I ask

"Natalie, I did so terrible"

"What? You can tell ainst my neck "I don’t want to be like the I’m not a monster, I’m not!"

What did they do to hi I’ood person You’re not a ainst his heart "I can feel it"

Ash pulls me toward him, and his lips find ers twist through his hair, and I draw hien I moan with pleasure as he sinks deeper into the kiss, his lips opening, his tongue running across mine Fireworks explode inside le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>