“Jude and I are getting water,” he called over his shoulder, dragging Jude with him through the trees.

He didn’t look back at Jude once as they tramped through the trees and down the muddy slope of the riverbank. Finally, at the edge of the river, Anton turned. He opened his mouth to speak, but before the words could pass his lips Jude stepped forward and kissed him.

It was a kiss unlike any they’d shared before, frantic and crackling with something more than need. Part of Jude was still back inside that dark cavern, the rush of water roaring in his ears, watching Yarik disappear below the surface. He dragged Anton closer, clinging to him like he would drown if he let go.

A low whimper escaped from the back of Anton’s throat. He broke away, breathing heavily. His hair was a mess where Jude’s hands had raked through it, his eyes wide and dark and glinting dangerously.

Jude wanted to fall into him, to lose himself entirely. He leaned in again, but Anton pushed him back, hands braced on his shoulders.

“You can’t do that anymore,” he said fiercely. “You can’t risk your life like that.”

His voice was icy with anger. Suddenly Jude was hurtled back several months, to another day in the Gallian Mountains, another close call with the Witnesses. He stared at Anton, a fog of confusion, desire, and desperation rendering him speechless.

“Do you hear me?” Anton demanded. “You can’t just run off like you were waiting for the opportunity, like you weren’t just—” He let out a harsh breath and rocked back on his heels.

Jude grasped for words, trying to make sense of Anton’s anger. He’d known Anton was upset when they split up in the caverns, but this felt like something more. “Anton, I’m—”

“Don’t say it,” Anton warned. “Don’t tell me it’s your duty to protect me. That’s not—I don’t want you bound to some oath, I don’t want that.”

Jude recoiled, bewildered by the bitter edge in Anton’s voice. Something hot and prickling crawled up his throat. Just when it had felt like the two of them were on equal footing again, Anton changed the rules.

“Well, that’s too bad,” Jude snapped. “Do you have any idea what I just had to do?”

Anton met his gaze, jaw set and eyes blazing. “You almost got yourself killed trying to take on two dozen Witnesses by your—”

“Paladin,” Jude broke in sharply. “They were Paladin, not Witnesses, and I killed them. I killed Yarik. And I would do it again, without hesitation, if it meant keeping you safe. Because even before I knew who you were, I swore I would, and that is an oath I will never break. The very least you can do is not throw it in my face.”