Jack is falling apart, but no one seems to notice. He's transforming into an animal with the ability to rend flesh and kill with little thought, and there's no one but Gil who can save him. But as Jack withdraws into himself, the tide of war rises. Jack must find a way to regain his strength and determination or SearchLight will fall. And he is convinced he must do it alone.

Gil has resolved never to leave Jack, but that's hard when his beloved smells of another man and he keeps pulling away. Convinced he's been replaced, Gil tries to play mean games, but his love for Jack trumps pettiness. Will change destroy them?