Ephyra’s words lingered in his mind. Whatever Anton’s hiding, it’s probably because he’s scared of what you would do if you knew.

Or, the voice in the back of Jude’s head posited, what it would do to him. He saw now that Anton wasn’t hiding something to protect himself. He was doing it to protect Jude.

He heard a faint splash behind him and turned. For a moment, he wondered if he’d imagined it and then Anton emerged through a curtain of steam. It kissed his shoulders and made his collarbone flush the color of the dawn sky over the Gallian Mountains.

“I was hoping I would find you in here,” he said.

The warmth of the pool made Jude feel light-headed. He braced a hand on the rocky edge as Anton drew closer.

“Can we call a truce?” Anton asked, gazing up at Jude with those dark eyes. “Please?”

A bead of water rolled down the back of Jude’s neck as he groped for words. But all he seemed to be able to do was stare at Anton, and want.

“I know you’re mad,” Anton said. “I’ve been trying to give you space, but … the truth is, all of this is so much harder without you.”

“Anton,” Jude said, squeezing his eyes shut. He couldn’t just come to Jude like this, in the middle of the night, and expect Jude to be able to refuse him.

“Can’t we just … move past this?” Anton asked, drifting dangerously closer. “Can’t you just trust me?”

Jude swallowed, breath labored, as Anton backed him against the edge of the pool but didn’t touch him.

“Can’t this be enough?” Anton asked, his lips skating just barely against Jude’s.

And Jude was lost. He closed the space between them with a soft inhalation, crushing their lips together and pulling him in by the waist.

Let me have this, Jude thought fervently, sending the prayer into the night. To the Prophets they were on their way to find. To anyone who would listen. Please just let me have this.

“Jude,” Anton murmured, laying his palm flat against Jude’s heart. “Jude, wait.”

“I don’t want to talk,” Jude said, pulling him in again. “Not anymore. Please, let’s just—”

Anton gently squeezed the back of Jude’s neck, and Jude let his head fall to Anton’s shoulder. They just stayed like that a moment, curved around each other, breathing in the steamy air.

“I know,” Jude said quietly against Anton’s shoulder. “Anton, I know what you’ve been hiding.”

Anton pulled back sharply, his eyes wide and shocked. His hair was a little wet, matted down where Jude’s fingers had run through it.