Klaus, Egor, Lilith, and Pritik reached the portal without incident.
That didn't surprise Klaus in the slightest.
The entire way, he'd felt it—someone on their tail. He had no doubt August had sent people after them, no matter what he'd said.
For nearly two days, Egor didn't speak to him at all.
Just burned holes in him with those looks.
Lilith, on the other hand, was practically buzzing.
Especially after Klaus showed her where they were going.
She still couldn't wrap her head around it. One moment—nothing. The next—knowledge that shouldn't even exist. And now she was about to see it with her own eyes.
She had no idea Klaus wasn't planning to stay with them.
He kept that to himself.
Egor's silence didn't bother him.
At least the idiot hadn't blabbed anything to Lilith.
They reached the portal around noon. Klaus decided they'd eat first—then explain to Lilith that this time, she'd have to stick with Egor.
"Listen," Klaus said, looking straight at him. "I get that you're pissed. You've got every right. But do one thing for me. Take care of Lilith. Explain everything once you're through."
"Oh, now you care?" Egor finally spoke, voice dripping with sarcasm. "What, your conscience finally wake up? Or you just suck at saying goodbye properly? You didn't seem to have a problem with that a few days ago."
"Enough," Klaus snapped. "I already explained everything. Thought you understood. It's different with Lilith. I'm not dealing with a scene right now. Will you talk to her or not?"
Egor let out a short, humorless laugh.
"Do I even have a choice, Your Majesty?" he spat. "Should I bow too? Swear loyalty? 'Your will be done'? You never really taught me how to play obedient slave."
"Stop acting like a child."
Klaus didn't push further.
No matter how pissed Egor was, he'd do it.
The rest could wait.
"Pritik. Open it."
"At once, Your Majesty."
"So that's how it's supposed to sound," Egor muttered under his breath.
The portal flared open.
Klaus looked at Lilith—glowing with excitement—then at Egor, tight with barely restrained anger.
"What, no goodbye hug?" Egor said dryly.
Better.
At least he was talking.
Klaus stepped forward.
"Lilith. You go first."
She didn't need to be told twice.
Egor stepped up beside the portal, spreading his arms wide in exaggerated invitation.
Klaus walked straight into the embrace.
The moment his arms locked around Egor's back—
Egor twisted sharply and shoved him hard in the chest.
Klaus staggered—
And went straight through the portal.
The world flipped before he could react.
He landed on a familiar stretch of highway.
Cars roared past in the distance.
Lilith stood nearby, wide-eyed, spinning in place, taking everything in.
When Egor stepped through after him, the portal snapped shut behind them.
Klaus stared at him.
"…What the hell was that?"
Egor shrugged.
"In this world? I'm not your slave. I don't owe you shit."
Klaus exhaled slowly.
"So now I get to use the unfinished portal and drag myself back alone. That your grand plan?"
"Don't bother," Egor said coolly. "Grandma can reopen it. Or what—were you planning to disappear without even saying hello?"
Klaus frowned.
He was irritated.
But not as much as he should've been.
He'd gotten used to this place.
To her.
To this life.
If not for everything waiting for him on the other side—
He might've stayed.
Here, he was just a man.
Not a prince.
Not a weapon.
Just… himself.
As they walked along the empty highway, Klaus pulled out the communication stone.
It vibrated the second it touched his palm.
"What the hell, Klaus?!" August's voice snapped through.
"I'm in a world where I can't replenish my magic," Klaus said quickly. "Listen carefully. I'll be delayed. Two days, maybe less. I'll be back."
He cut the connection before August could answer.
The stone vibrated again in protest.
Even that small use of magic made his head spin.
He shoved it back into his pocket and kept walking.
Back underground, August was tearing his room apart.
"That little bastard—! I knew he wouldn't back off that easily! Dragging Klaus through the portal like that—what the hell was he thinking?!"
He rounded on Pritik, who was practically glued to the wall.
"Why didn't you stop him?!"
"My lord—it happened too fast. Even His Majesty didn't expect it—"
"Of course he didn't!" August snapped. "He trusts that blond idiot blindly!"
He dragged a hand through his hair.
"Fine. He got caught off guard, I get that. But why stay there? What's that little snake planning now?"
He turned sharply.
"We're going to the portal. Now. I'll drag him back myself."
"August."
Goral's voice cut through—low, steady.
"What?"
"Tomorrow. The meeting with the border noble. The attack on the reconnaissance unit. Tirit's advance."
A pause.
"If we don't deal with that first, everything falls apart."
August went still.
He knew.
That only made it worse.
"…Why now," he muttered.
"Because he trusted you to handle it," Goral said calmly.
Silence.
August exhaled hard and dropped into a chair.
"Fine," he muttered. "Have your fun while I clean up your mess."
A pause.
"But when you get back…"
He didn't finish.
"Pritik—get some rest. Goral, where's Tirit's squad now?"
They had no money.
So they walked.
The entire way.
Klaus didn't care.
Egor managed.
Lilith—barely.
By the time they reached the building, she was ready to collapse. Only stubborn curiosity kept her moving.
Knowing about this world was one thing.
Seeing it—
That was something else entirely.
The door opened.
Grandma froze.
"Egor? Klaus? What the hell are you doing here?"
"So that's the welcome?" Klaus scoffed. "We walked for hours and you can't even crack a smile?"
She snorted.
"Still a rude little shit, I see. Get inside. And who's this?" Her eyes landed on Lilith. "You dragged the poor girl halfway across the world on foot? Look at her—she's about to drop!"
"Don't start," Klaus muttered. "We didn't have much choice."
"And stopping to rest didn't cross your mind?"
"I'm starving," Klaus cut in. "Feed us first. Lecture later."
She grumbled under her breath but started setting the table.
Egor immediately followed to help.
Lilith practically collapsed into a chair, trying to catch her breath.
Klaus tapped his fingers against the table, impatient.
He explained why they'd come.
Egor stayed silent, throwing him dark looks now and then.
"You calling your Andryusha?" Grandma asked. "The girl needs documents."
"Phone's in your room. Call him yourself."
She waved him off and turned back to Egor, who was already talking—animated, alive, recounting everything they'd been through.
She had never seen him like this.
Alive.
Despite everything, he'd been happier there than he ever was here.
That alone told her she hadn't made a mistake sending him after Klaus.
But when Egor reached the part about coming back—
Something dimmed.
She noticed.
Said nothing.
Some things weren't hers to interfere with.
Klaus went to the room.
Nothing had changed.
She'd kept everything exactly as it was.
He pulled open the drawer, took out his phone, powered it on, and dialed.
"Hello," a woman's voice answered. "So, you're back in the country?"
"I need another set of documents," Klaus said. "Fast."
"You know how this works. And what it costs."
Money.
Right.
He'd need to deal with that.
His phone vibrated again.
"At first I thought it was a glitch," Sasha's voice came through—warm, familiar. "Tell me you're actually back."
Klaus smiled before he could stop himself.
"I'm here. For a couple of days."
"How long?"
"Not long."
"Coffee?"
"I was about to suggest it. You free?"
"For you? Always. I'll pick you up in an hour."
"Deal."
He hung up, grabbed clean clothes, a towel, and headed for the shower.
"I'll be out for a few hours," he said from the doorway.
Egor looked up immediately.
"I'm not leaving," Klaus added. "Just handling something."
"You meeting Andrey?" Grandma asked.
"No. Someone else."
"Sasha?" Egor's voice went flat.
"Yes."
Silence settled over the room.
Grandma noticed the shift in Egor's face—
But didn't say a word.
Some things weren't hers to question.