"How the hell are you even supposed to talk to you?" Egor snapped the moment they stepped out of the portal.
They stood beneath the large tree at the cave entrance. A few people nearby turned at the raised voice.
"It wasn't my fault!" Klaus shot back, letting go of the trunk he'd been using to steady himself. "She jumped me out of nowhere—what exactly was I supposed to do?"
"Dodge. Push her off. Anything! You could've—"
Klaus cut him off.
He grabbed Egor by the arm, dragged him behind the tree—out of sight—and shut him up with a quick, sharp kiss.
"I didn't kiss her the way I kiss you," he said quietly, still close.
Egor froze.
Then—just as quickly—cooled.
"And after opening the portal, I wasn't exactly in fighting shape," Klaus added. "You know what happens when a mage burns through his reserves."
"…I know," Egor muttered. "It just pisses me off that I've got so many rivals. Sorry."
"You don't have any rivals," Klaus said flatly. "Come on. We've got work to do. And I'm guessing a very unpleasant conversation waiting for us."
"Well, well. Look who finally crawled back."
August's voice cut through the corridor.
"And with—what the hell, Klaus? Why did you bring him back?"
They hadn't even made it halfway to Klaus's quarters before August intercepted them.
Klaus had been hoping to talk to him in private first.
Too late.
"Your office," Klaus said, already tired. "We talk there."
"About what? You disappearing for days and coming back with exactly what you left with?"
"I left Lilith there."
"And still dragged him back."
"We'll talk inside."
Klaus walked past him without waiting.
Egor hurried after. Three men followed behind, carrying their things.
"Take everything to my room," Klaus said.
The door shut.
Klaus turned before August could speak.
"First—yes, I had a reason to bring Egor back. No, I'm not explaining it right now. It was my decision. End of discussion."
August's jaw tightened.
"Second," Klaus went on, calm but cold, "we have bigger problems. These past few days made one thing very clear—we move now. No more waiting."
"No compromise. As usual," August said flatly.
"No," Klaus replied. "And if you don't like it—keep it to yourself. And stop taking it out on Egor."
A pause.
"He's mine. Same as you."
August's expression darkened.
"You're putting me on the same level as that weakling?"
"This isn't about strength," Klaus said evenly. "It's about what he means to me. Wasn't it you who told me to stop acting like a machine? I'm following your advice."
"That's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?" Klaus didn't wait. "The border forces. Settled?"
August exhaled sharply.
"Yes. But we've got a new problem."
Klaus said nothing.
"Yesterday, the king publicly executed twenty-eight of my agents inside the castle," August said. "I still don't know how he identified them. He declared they were working for you—called you the main criminal of the realm. Stripped you of your title. Named his younger son crown prince."
Klaus didn't even blink.
"Good," he said. "Saves me the trouble of pretending."
August watched him carefully.
"Then we hit back," he said. "And we make it loud. If we're breaking your father's authority, it has to be overwhelming."
"I already have a plan," Klaus said. "We take territory—and expose something he's been hiding. That should be enough to shake the high nobles."
August's eyes sharpened.
"I'm listening."
"Later," Klaus said. "I want Horalde, Pritik, and a few representatives from the commoners present. My inner circle needs to reflect all levels."
A short, humorless smile.
"Of course… Your Majesty."
Klaus didn't correct him.
"He's furious," Egor muttered once they were back in Klaus's room.
"Don't worry about it. He'll cool off," Klaus said dismissively.
"I doubt that," Egor said. "Didn't you promise him something? That day—when we went to my world."
Klaus went still.
The memory surfaced.
The bath.
The tension.
He compared it—what he'd felt then… and what he felt now.
Different.
Completely.
So what did that mean?
"So?" Egor pressed. "What did you promise him?"
"You know he doesn't see me as a brother."
"Yeah. He makes sure I don't forget."
"I told him I'd try… to respond to him the same way."
Egor froze.
"You were going to sleep with him."
"Yes."
"…And you haven't?"
"Not fully."
"What does that even mean?"
"That's enough," Klaus cut him off. "That was before you and I. I gave you my word. That's what matters."
"Easy for you to say. You know what he's like."
Klaus sighed.
"Come here. And grab something I can use as an ashtray."
Egor handed him a mug.
Klaus caught his wrist instead, thumb brushing over the brand.
"This should be removed."
"No. I like it."
"You're strange."
"Says you, Your Majesty."
"Trying to provoke me?"
"What if I am?"
Klaus pulled him down onto his lap.
"Careful."
Then kissed him.
And for a moment—
everything else stopped mattering.
"You should move back into this room," Klaus said afterward.
"I was thinking the same thing," Egor said. "Clearly you can't be trusted on your own."