Ryan It's pouring down water when I walk into the old mansion that used to belong to some rich bastard. There is a pool emptied of water, cluttered with graffiti and letters. Human bones have been thrown there by my fellow hybrids, reminding me of our disgusting dinners that Amelia surely wouldn't appreciate. I clench my jaw. Amelia, beautiful, innocent Amelia, would she leave me if she knew the truth about what it means to be a hybrid? Probably. "Number two!" Blinking, I lift my head and find Courtney waving at me from the porch. She has opened the glassed door and seems to be waiting for me. Her lips are cruel, and her eyes are no longer filled with emotion like they were back in her human days. Brown hair sticks to her rosy cheeks, framing her heart-shaped face. She looks like an evil queen that could belong in an old Disney movie. Because while she is beautiful, I know better than anyone that only hatred exists within those

AmeliaSomething is wrong—I can feel it in my bones. The skin on my back is burning as if someone had slapped me with a rope repeatedly. I can barely move, not without the area stinging like a bitch. It makes me wonder if Ryan is okay. Maybe we are connected in the universe, and I can feel his pain like my own.It must be something like that because I don't remember even touching my back."You're not saying much."Billy's voice makes my eyes flicker down to the ground. "Sorry, what did you say?" I ask. "I wasn't listening.""We don't have much dynamite left after that hybrid attack," Billy comments while looking through our inventory box. He looks tired. "I don't even understand why they attacked us. They have left us alone in the past—why charge now?"A pregnant Zoya is sitting on the ground, cleaning a rifle while looking thoughtful. Billy's hand is on her thigh. The two of them never leave each other's side anymore. They fell

Amelia"This is a terrible idea," I tell Blue, my excellent companion with the disastrous ideas before releasing an arrow—within moments, I hit my target in the head. One of the hybrids drops dead without a sound, and I lift my bow, about to shoot the other hybrid.But this time, Blue is one step ahead of me.The zombie dog rushes into battle, growling at the peeing, unsuspecting hybrid before jumping over him like a vicious beast. I hear a scream as I stare down at the unrealistic scene.The hybrid is trying to kick off the dog from his chest, struggle to get away from Blue's teeth, but in the end, Blue winds up the winner after biting the hybrids' neck.I blink in shock and shout at the dog. "Remind me never to challenge you to a fight!""BOFF BOFF!"A smile latches onto my face. "Aw, I would never fight you either! You're a good dog and a formidable foe."Like a drunk, I hike down the hill with my eyes kept on the sadd

Amelia I'm scanning the entrance to a rundown building with a pair of binoculars I found in the saddlebag. Hybrids walk in and out of a mansion that looks like it belonged to someone rich—before the bomb dropped. Cuddles munches on my hair while I try to figure out how to get inside the building. The giant lizard wouldn't leave my side at night either. I think he has bonded with me. That, or he was only trying to steal my body heat by pressing himself to my back. The big fellow seems to think he is the size of a tiny dog. "I think they hunt during nighttime; it would be our biggest chance of infiltrating their home. Hopefully, they are keeping Ryan prisoner at this location," I look over at Blue, who tilts his head at me. "You're sure that he is here?" The zombie dog nods at me. He seems intelligent enough to understand that barking here isn't a good idea. I think it's funny that my team members are all mutated animals. My male lizard is named Cuddles

Amelia "My memories have been back for a while..." Ryan admits. "It was overwhelming at first. Imagine having the memories of a person who is no longer you." "That must be hard." "It is." I'm staring at Ryan, soaking in the sight of his tanned skin and flexing muscles as he tries to make himself comfortable. It seems like it's been forever since I last saw him. Part of me believes this man is a daydream or a cruel hallucination. It wouldn't surprise me. I can't peel my eyes away from him. His abs are almost dancing as he moves, and the fan service forces me to suck the drool back into my mouth. He looks over at me, and my eyes bounce to his blue in the nick of time. At least, that's what I hope they did. However, the curling corner of his mouth is telling me otherwise. Excellent. Just Excellent. He caught me staring. "Does me having my memories back change anything?" I shake my head at him. "No, I don't think so."