“Not—supposed—to kill—me—” she gasped.

But Smee had forgotten or he didn’t care and Sophie choked and sputtered, knowing she was going to die here, her prince only a few feet away. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Hook trap Tedros with his boot, slashing at Tedros’ cloak as the prince squirmed and yelled. Cheeks blue, Sophie looked up at Smee, as she wheezed her last breath—

A fire-tipped tree branch ripped right through Smee’s head, igniting his skull with blue flames.

Eyes wide, the henchman let go of Sophie, his head combusting at the stitches, as he flopped back into darkness.

Stunned, Sophie looked up at Hook, who’d moved off Tedros as he watched Smee’s body consumed by blue fire. Slowly the Captain looked down the path at a broad-shouldered, raven-haired stranger, brandishing a glowing blue fingertip.

“I-I-I know that boy,” said Hook, astonished. “That’s Scourie’s son. Born and raised on my very ship—”

But it was Hook’s last words, for a sword ran him through and he dropped to his knees, mouth open in shock, before falling face-first on the trail.

Behind him, Tedros wiped his blade of zombie guts and rose gingerly, inspecting a patchwork of hook wounds in his right side, bleeding into his cloak. He breathed relief, as if none of them were mortal.

“I owe you my life, Hort,” said Tedros, looking up.

Hort stepped into the moonlight, teeth gnashed at him. “I saved her. Not you.”

Sophie saw the rage in Hort’s face, the result of a full day alone with his festering feelings. Her eyes widened, suddenly understanding.

“But . . . but . . . you said you didn’t love me anymore—” Sophie rasped.

Hort whirled to her. “I lied.”

Lost in a fog, Sophie didn’t know what to say. But she knew one thing for sure. She couldn’t make Hort travel by himself any longer. Not when he’d saved her life.

Her time alone with Tedros was over.

I had it! He would have kissed me! she thought miserably. She glowered at Rafal’s ring, undestroyed on her finger, feeling heavier than before.

Soon they’d resumed their journey, the three of them in a silent pack, for Sophie couldn’t say anything to Tedros that Hort should hear, and Tedros and Hort had no desire to speak in the other’s presence. And just when Sophie thought the tension could get no worse, she looked back distractedly at the horror show they’d left behind—

“Um . . . boys?” she croaked.

Prince and Weasel turned.

They looked past Sophie to see Smee’s corpse in the distance, still burning off the path.

Hook’s body was gone.

“But I stabbed him in the heart!” said Tedros, still defending himself the next afternoon.

“For the last time, zombies don’t have hearts,” snapped Hort. “Why do you think I set Smee on fire? It’s the only way to destroy them—”

“Why didn’t you say something then?”

“’Cause I was hoping Hook would kill you!”

“Please tell me we’re getting close to the safe house,” Sophie growled.