Jack pauses just inside the ring of trees. His eyes flick to me, careful not to stray long from Doug and his scythe. If Jack’s injured under all that blood—if he’s in pain—he’s trying hard not to show it. Still, I’m surprised he didn’t conceal his injuries, knowing Doug will undoubtedly try to exploit them.

Or maybe that’s all part of Jack’s plan. To make himself into easy prey. To sacrifice himself in some stupid, selfless way to save me, like he did in Cuernavaca.

My voice breaks when I call out to him. “You shouldn’t have come.”

“He needed to come. Didn’t you, Sommers? To prove yourself. To prove to her that you’re not some has-been, washed-up, impotent fuck-up with low self-esteem and mortality issues.”

To his credit, Jack doesn’t flinch.

I jerk hard on my magic. Doug shakes it off with a dark laugh. He’s trying to look careless, but I know better. His fingers burn around the staff and his head is pounding. His cracked rib aches every time he draws a breath. Just like Jack, he’s refusing to show it.

“Just to be clear,” Doug shouts, “you’re here to submit yourself to me. Or you can fight me, if you’d rather die a hero.” Doug points at me with the end of his staff. “But you should know that anything you do to harm me will harm her equally.” He scratches the cut on his forehead with the tip of his finger, making sure Jack sees it. Jack’s gaze skips to the matching gash on mine. His eyes dance between us.

I told Jack that Doug would never hurt me. That Doug couldn’t hurt me. But I didn’t tell Jack this. I knew if I did, it could cost Jack his life. That he would hesitate to protect himself against Doug to avoid harming me.

I can see the wheels in his head turning, changing direction. Whatever he had planned, he hadn’t accounted for this.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be okay.” I clutch the ache in my side, wishing Jack could read my thoughts. That he could understand this small clue—this weakness of Doug’s I’m trying to project to him. That he could know how badly I wish he would turn around and run from this.

Rain slices down his face. “I want to see her first,” he shouts.

“You’ve seen her.”

“Just let me say goodbye to her. Then you can have me.”

Doug’s laugh booms across the green. “How stupid do you think I am? That’s as close as you’re getting. On your knees, Sommers.” The ground heaves. Grass tears as a root erupts behind Jack, grabbing his ankle and dragging him down. He splashes down on his hands and knees in the mud.