Careful not to soak the bandage on his arm, Klaus lowered himself into the hot water and let out a slow breath.
Every muscle in his body ached. The cuts and lash marks still stung, but he barely registered it.
After a few minutes, eyes closed, he heard the door to the private bath open.
August stood in the doorway.
"I came to help," he said with a faint, almost lazy smile. "You shouldn't be using that arm."
Klaus didn't answer. He just watched as August stripped without hesitation and stepped into the water.
He moved in close and started undoing the braid.
"Turn around."
Klaus pushed off the edge and turned his back.
The water barely covered them. August worked soap into his hands and dragged his fingers through Klaus's hair, slow, thorough, massaging his scalp. Klaus shut his eyes, letting it happen, letting himself sink into it.
Those hands slid lower.
Over his shoulders.
Down his back.
Firm. Unhurried. Possessive.
August turned him around.
Face to face.
Close.
Too close.
He started lathering his chest, fingers spreading the soap over skin, lingering just a second longer than necessary.
"You know," he said quietly, "I thought I'd never see you again."
"But I'm here."
"Yeah…"
August's hand came up, still slick with soap, brushing across Klaus's cheek. He stepped closer.
Their bodies nearly touched.
Breath mixing.
Neither of them moved.
August's gaze dragged slowly over the fresh cuts on Klaus's face.
"August—"
"Don't." His finger pressed lightly against Klaus's lips. "I almost killed your… Egor."
Klaus's brow tightened, but he stayed silent.
"I wanted to strangle Goral. I wanted to tear Abel apart until he begged me to stop. I was ready to abandon everyone underground just to come after you."
His hand slid to Klaus's uninjured shoulder, fingers tightening slightly.
"Klaus, I—"
He stopped.
Exhaled.
"I want you with me. Always."
"I am."
August searched his face, then leaned in.
Stopped just short.
Waiting.
Klaus saw it.
Clear.
Raw.
That hunger in his eyes. That need. The edge of losing control.
So Klaus closed the distance himself.
Pressed his lips to his.
That was all it took.
August snapped.
The kiss turned rough instantly—hungry, almost violent, like he'd been holding himself back for too long. His hands moved over Klaus's body, dragging, gripping, pulling him closer.
Hard.
Careless.
Except for the shoulder.
He was already hard, pressing insistently against Klaus's thigh, heat unmistakable.
When Klaus tried to steady him with his hand, August caught his wrist mid-motion.
"Don't," he said, voice low, strained. "I've got you."
They broke apart just long enough to breathe.
Klaus dipped under the water, rinsing the soap off, completely forgetting the bandage.
The second he came back up, August was on him again.
No hesitation.
No restraint.
He drove him back until Klaus's spine hit the stone wall.
Pinned.
August's hand wrapped around him, slow at first, deliberate, dragging every reaction out of him. His other hand braced against Klaus's chest, holding him in place.
Klaus didn't hesitate.
His free hand slid under the water and found him—just as hard, already tense, already waiting.
The moment his fingers closed around him, August sucked in a sharp breath.
The kiss broke.
A rough exhale.
"Klaus—"
His voice cracked.
The look in his eyes—dark, unfocused. The tension in his body. The way his breathing hitched—
It hit Klaus harder than he expected.
Sharp.
Low in his gut.
Something unfamiliar.
Something that made him tighten his grip instead of pulling away.
He didn't slow down.
If anything, he pushed further—testing, watching how August reacted, how his body answered, how easily he lost control.
August groaned, low and unrestrained, head dropping forward for a second before snapping back, breath uneven.
They came almost at the same time.
August sagged against him, breath hot against his neck, a quiet, broken laugh slipping out.
"I've never felt anything like that with a woman," he murmured, voice rough, before slipping under the water.
Klaus watched the surface ripple.
Water settling.
"I've never felt anything like that at all," he said quietly.
They returned to their wing in noticeably better spirits.
"Maybe you'll come by tonight?" August asked, crooked grin back in place.
Klaus let out a short laugh—rare, unguarded.
"You sure you're ready for that?"
"Come and find out."
August tapped his cheek, smirked, and disappeared into his room.
From around the corner, Egor had seen enough.
More than enough.
With every second, something inside him tightened.
Darkened.
He forced himself to move, pulling a tight smile into place.
"How's your arm?"
"The bandage is annoying. Otherwise, I'm fine."
"Sit," Egor said. "I'll take care of the rest."
"It's just a few scratches—"
Egor ignored him and shoved him forward.
Lilith wasn't there.
Under Egor's steady, almost suffocating gaze, Klaus finally gave in, pulled off his shirt, and sat down while Egor worked over the cuts.
Careful.
Precise.
Too controlled.
"You and the captain seem… in a good mood," Egor said lightly. "Something happen?"
"Nothing much," Klaus said after a pause. "Hot water helps."
A lie.
Obvious.
And Egor felt it immediately.
The first real one.
He was already opening his mouth—to say he knew, that he'd seen, that he understood exactly what August wanted—
But Klaus spoke first.
"I've made a decision. You're going back."
The bandage slipped from Egor's hands.
He stared at him.
"So that's it?" His voice came out rough. "Because of August?"
"What? No."
"He wants me gone."
"This has nothing to do with him," Klaus said evenly. "It's my decision. And it wasn't easy."
"Don't feed me that," Egor snapped. "Don't pretend this is about my safety."
"It is," Klaus said sharply. "Once we start moving, my enemies multiply. Anyone close to me becomes a target."
"Then send him away," Egor shot back. "Or Lilith. Why me?"
"You're my weakness," Klaus said quietly. "In their eyes."
Silence.
Heavy.
"Lilith will be placed under protection," Klaus continued. "And August…" A faint, tired smirk. "Even if I tried, I couldn't stop him."
"I'm not afraid."
"I am."
Another silence.
"It's decided. In a few days, I'll take you to the portal."
"Then I'll run," Egor said immediately. "I'll stay here. Even if I have to survive alone."
"Enough."
Klaus stood abruptly.
Closed the distance in one step.
Towering over him.
"When I give an order—you obey."
He grabbed Egor's wrist and twisted it, exposing the brand.
"Or did you forget what this means?"
Egor froze.
He had never believed—
Not really.
That Klaus would actually use it.
"Klaus…" His voice dropped. "Please. I can't go back. I can't live like I did before."
Something tightened in Klaus's chest.
Sharp.
Unpleasant.
He let go.
Sat back down, suddenly drained.
"Listen," he said quietly. "If you still want to come back—if you still want to stand beside me—then when this is over, I'll come for you. I promise."
"And if something happens to you?" Egor shot back. "If I'm waiting and you never come? How am I supposed to know anything?"
Klaus looked away.
Jaw tightening.
"We leave today," he said flatly. "Pack your things."
He walked out before he could stop himself.
Before he changed his mind.
That pressure in his chest hadn't let up for a second.
And he hated it.
August looked up when Klaus appeared in the doorway.
"I'm not here for that," Klaus said.
August's expression shifted instantly.
"What happened?"
"I'm taking Egor to the portal. Now."
Something sharp flickered across August's face.
Satisfaction.
Gone just as fast.
"You could send someone else."
"No."
August exhaled slowly.
"Then take an amulet. For communication. And the unfinished portal sphere. Once he's through, add soil from here—it'll bring you straight back."
"Good."
August stepped closer, resting a hand lightly on his injured shoulder.
"Be careful."
"I will."
A pause.
"So now you're playing bodyguard for two helpless strays?" August muttered.
"Two?" Klaus frowned.
"You forgot the second one?"
Klaus blinked.
Then groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
"Lilith. Right."
He straightened slightly, something clicking into place.
"That might actually work."
"I don't like that tone," August muttered, already following him out.