Like the poisoning and the rumours, Marie-Fey didn't locate the source of the scorpion. She could only assume that it wasn't the work of a single person and in fact multiple people across the palace, covering for each other.

She would have dug a solo danger out by now.

Maanah had been relentless in trying to track down the source until Marie-Fey called a halt to the issue, giving it up as a lost cause when there were more pressing matters to attend to – such as her return to her home country.

With Sophia's wedding fast approaching, Marie-Fey was itching to get out of the palace and away from the desert. The soon she was on the ship home, the happier she'd be.

True to her word, Zaafira came with her, along with Maanah and Gharam – though the notion clearly stressed Maanah.

It was a long trip from city to coast, almost three days – Marie-Fey hated it because it was nothing but desert, once in a while broken up by village or town where water sources permitted it.

Just to get her there in one piece took a large caravan of servants, guards and guides and camels.

Barnaby had been roped into pulling Marie-Fey's small carriage along for the trip and he grumbled the entire time, telling her in no uncertain terms that he was above such lowly work – in his own camel way.

Maanah and Gharam shared another carriage at the back.

Marie-Fey had stuffed Zaafira into her own carriage since she refused to share her compartment with anyone else and Zaafira had thrown a fit at being put in with Marie-Fey's ladies.

They stayed at the towns along the way – though the caravan was stocked for dealing with a night out in the open on the chance they became stranded due to temperamental weather.

Thankfully that didn't happen.

They reached the busy port city on time and Marie-Fey was brought directly to the huge harbour that saw dozens of massive ships sailing in and out every day all year around, carrying trade, ambassadors, solders and more.

Her presence always caused a stir across the city because, despite being so far from the main city, they were still within her husband's territories.

She was the most important person breathing within that city the second she stepped into it and it made her guards twitchy with hyper awareness.

Regardless of what was happening back in the palace, Marie-Fey was a target for being married to who she was – her husband had enemies and she would fetch a high ransom.

At least everyone assumed she would.

Marie-Fey was inclined to think that, if she were kidnapped, her husband would have to be reminded he was actually married before he thought to do anything. She figured it would be up to her and her alone to escape whatever awful situation she ended up in.

But it was unlikely considering how tense her guards were at all times, crowding in close and watching everyone in the harbour.

Marie-Fey always sailed on one of two ships. The Yarshud or The Iahab. Marie-Fey always preferred The Yarshuh, she was biased because the name meant The Guide and she always felt that ship was guiding her home, (though she pointedly ignored the meaning when leaving home) – but also she was more fond of its crew.

Raaji al-Saba had captained The Yarshud on Marie-Fey's first journey from home after her disastrous wedding and they had formed a bizarre bond Marie-Fey was grateful for.

He greeted her as she stepped down from her carriage with a bow and Marie-Fey reached for him with a smile as he took her hand and kissed it.

"My Lady, how are you?" he said, nodding to her guards as they started to unload luggage, sailors stepping forwards with nods and smiles of greeting to Marie-Fey.

"Oh, such drama in the last few months, I must tell you over dinner," Marie-Fey said, waving it off.

"I have an excellent meal planned for you tonight," Raaji promised before noticing the other women. "What's this? Company?"

"Maanah and Gharam," Marie-Fey said, pointing each out in turn.

"Ah, your ladies," Raaji said, nodding.

The sailors were openly gaping at the women as they worked. Gharam tucked herself in closer to Maanah, flustered with eyes on the ground.

Maanah pointedly put herself between the men and Gharam, chin up and ignoring them, one arm tight around Gharam.

"Why don't you two wait in the carriage?" Marie-Fey said, shooing them away with a dismissive flick but Gharam's eyes were grateful as she pulled Maanah away.

Zaafira didn't move. She just stood with her arms folded, head held high, the stares of the men bouncing right off her unshakeable frame – telling them in no uncertain terms their existence meant naught to her.

"That one is Zaafira, we're not interested in her," Marie-Fey said.

"We're not?" Raaji asked, confused.

"Don't let the men touch her but don't let her demand anything of you," Marie-Fey replied before turning to look at Zaafira.

Zaafira's eyes were black with rage.

"Is something wrong, Zaafira?" Marie-Fey asked.

"You're a—" Zaafira started but stopped suddenly.

"I'm a?" Marie-Fey asked but Zaafira didn't answer.

She bit her bottom lip then lowered her gaze.

Marie-Fey narrowed her eyes then felt Raaji move away from her.

"My Lord," he said and Marie-Fey froze.

Zaydan had travelled on ahead a couple of weeks before to hassle his brother into joining Marie-Fey on her journey.

They hadn't heard anything from him since, other than a promise he'd meet them at the docks.

Everyone around her had stopped to bow, eyes averted and Marie-Fey's skin tingled before she took a breath.

When she turned, she could not react.

He could not know the affect his absence had on her.

He could not let him control the situation.

She took another deep breath.

Then turned.

And was disappointed.

Zaydan was swinging down from a horse, talking to one of his men as he handed off the reins.

There were numerous men with him, but Marie-Fey knew them all.

And her husband's face wasn't among them.

As if feeling her stare, Zaydan turned from his men and found her in the crowd.

His eyes filled with regret the second he locked eyes on her and Marie-Fey turned away with a harsh sigh.

"I'm not even surprised," she muttered before sweeping away, waving men out of her way as she lifted her skirts and swept along the gangplank, not pausing when she heard Maanah rushing from the carriage to hurry after her.

She accepted the hand one of the sailors offered her as she stepped onto the deck, then ordered him to help the other women onto the ship – since none of them would have been on a ship in years, if ever – before heading for her cabin, which were the Captain's Quarters. Raaji always had them redesigned for her journeys and they were huge, comprising of seven compartments.

Raaji could be in the map room, directing their course without ever disturbing her even if she walked around in her nightgown.

She swept into the room she was used for sleep, slamming the door closed behind her and spinning, sitting down on the bed, nails digging into the bedcovers at her sides as she stared down at the floor, shoulders hunched as she dismissed Plan A.

Plan A – husband in tow – attend all the society events with a husband to prove she hadn't been dismissed and forgotten by the man she'd married. Prove to the rest of the ton that there wasn't anything wrong with her, that she was as successful in marriage as any of those other idiots she attended tea parties with.

That she was as happy as her sisters and there was no reason for polite society to pity her behind their fans.

Plan B came crashing into place and was ready to go in an instant.

Please B – husband notably absent – handle it as it's always handled. Make his excuses. Play up their silly fantasies.

Pretend everything was fine.

Everything was always fine.

"Lady Fey?"

Marie-Fey levelled her glare at Zaydan through her lashes without raising her head.

He stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame, arms folded over his chest as he watched her.

"You must stop entering ladies' bedrooms without invitation," Marie-Fey said.

"May I come in?"

"Certainly not, it's entirely inappropriate."

"I'll speak from here then."

"Must you?"

"Speak from here?"

"Speak."

"I feel I should."

Marie-Fey released a breath and looked away, getting to her feet and walking to the large windows that looked out at the sea they'd soon sail across.

"I'm sorry," Zaydan said.

"Why?"

"I tried," he said, "I really did try to convince him to come. I gave him every reason why it would be worth his time. I promise I wasn't half-hearted about it, we almost got into a fight right in front of The Sultan... but I couldn't convince him... I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter," Marie-Fey muttered, leaning her forehead against the cool glass and closing her eyes.

She felt her shoulders beginning to droop, the fight going out of her, and she pulled them straight again, hardening the muscles in her back to hold her tall even as she leant against the window.

"I expected nothing less and nothing more from him," she said with a lifeless wave over her shoulder before folding her arms against her stomach.

They were quiet for a moment then Marie-Fey opened her eyes, their blue hard and icy again as she turned to look at Zaydan.

"You should disembark, now," she said, "We'll be leaving shortly. I'm sure I'll see you in a few months."

"I'm coming with you," Zaydan said and Marie-Fey put a hand to her eyes, suppressing a groan.

"Why are you coming with us?" she ground out through her teeth.

"Because I haven't been back in years and if you can't have the husband, you can have the next best thing."

"You are far from the next best thing. I don't need a brother-in-law. I need a husband."

She dropped her hand, looking at him.

"All he had to do was make an appearance. Just once, just to disperse all those stupid rumours. Then he could have gone back to ignoring me until we both died."

Zaydan's brow creased at that.

"Is this really so hard?" Marie-Fey asked, sweeping across the cabin, pulling off her gloves as she began to pace. "Am I asking too much of a husband?"

"No, not at all," Zaydan muttered.

"Then what is the point of all this? Why did he marry me if I'm not even worth his notice for a few weeks? The man can't even be bothered to consummate the damn marriage. Maybe I should press to have it annulled."

Zaydan looked up, startled and Marie-Fey wasn't sure if it was because she'd dared discuss intercourse in front of a man or because she'd questioned terminating the marriage.

Maybe both.

She didn't care.

"All he has to do if show up once," she snapped, throwing her gloves aside and unpinning her hat from her hair. "How much embarrassment does he think is tolerable? Does he just enjoy humiliating me on the social stage?"

"No," Zaydan said, sounding strangled. "No, he... he..."

"He just doesn't care enough to consider it, even when the argument is put to him," Marie-Fey finished for him, slamming the long, lethal hat pins down.

Zaydan couldn't even rebuff that, his arms tightening, fingers digging into his biceps, the muscles in his arms so tense they strained against the fabric of his clothes.

Marie-Fey raised an eyebrow at that.

"Why are you so flustered?" she shot at him.

"Because it upsets me," Zaydan said – his honesty surprising Marie-Fey. "It angers me that he won't reach out to help his own wife. Not even once. It makes me angry that he didn't rush to your side when you were poisoned and that he doesn't help you now. It just... he just..."

He looked away, his black hair shielding his eyes.

"Why did he have to marry you if it's not a marriage?" he muttered, leaning the side of his head against the doorframe, eyes still hidden. "You could have married someone more suitable. Someone back in your home country. Who cares about you. Who takes an interest in your interests and your personality and your intelligence."

That startled a laugh out of Marie-Fey, making Zaydan look up.

"No one is going to marry me for my personality," she said, staring at him, "Have you not heard a word I've said you since we met?"

Zaydan opened his mouth then something pained crossed his eyes. "I heard," he muttered, "You underestimate yourself."

"I have a perfect measure of myself."

Zaydan was shaking his head though. "You don't. Neither does my brother and he's too stupid to realise what he's missing."

"Be that as it may," Marie-Fey started, rather keen to steer the conversation to more comfortable grounds – like hating her husband – when Zaydan suddenly unfolded his arms and reached forwards.

She jolted, eyeing the hands because she wasn't sure what he was doing.

She didn't anticipate that his fingers would slide across her cheeks and cup her face, drawing her towards him. Her hands flew up, grabbing his biceps and she ground her heels in, forcing him to stop as they stared at each over for a moment, Marie-Fey's eyes wide, Zaydan's gaze hooded and searching, brow creased like he was trying to see something more than what was in front of him.

The silence stretched between them for a long, long moment, Zaydan's fingers creeping into her hair, then Marie-Fey let out a breath.

"You're scaring me."

The words were barely audible, merging with the exhale that was almost drown out by the sounds of the ship being prepared and the harbour.

But Zaydan released her in an instant, straightening and the darkness in his eyes vanished, smile switching on like a bolt of lightning and whoever Marie-Fey had been held by vanished into the smile as bright at the sun.

"I think you and I can have great fun over the next few weeks," he said brightly, like the last few minutes hadn't happened. Marie-Fey stared at him as he ticked outing ideas off on his fingers. "We can go out to theatre and the opera and the galleries and, if the weather is mild, we should go riding together. We can continue our archery and go shopping. Most of my university friends are ambassadors and all over the world but I'm sure a few will be around. Even if they are, they won't be a problem for my new plan. I have a new plan. I know exactly what you and I should do."

Marie-Fey just stared at him, caught between that strange look in Zaydan's eyes before and the buzzing, easy energy now radiating off him.

"Lady Fey, let's con high society," he said, his smile getting impossibly brighter.

"What are you talking about?" Marie-Fey said, debating on whether she needed to shield her eyes or not.

"Let's you and I pretend I'm your husband," Zaydan said and Marie-Fey gaped at him like he was insane.