How can he promise that? Karl is dead because of him. Nate would be gone for him. And if Nate's dead, Adelaide likely is as well. She'd given her word, unasked, that she'd protect Nate. Anders takes a shaky breath, releasing his hold so he can lean up and kiss Nate's chin.

"Because you ask it of me, I will try." It's all he can offer. "I don't want to break your heart. But you... You're irreplaceable. My light. Mein Bärchen." He doesn't want to hurt the way he did after Karl again, and he doesn't want to crawl up to the surface yet again, and hope again, not for that. But Nate's asked it, and if this goes wrong in the worst way possible, he will do so.