"I hear you're leaving us again, so soon as well."

Marie-Fey looked away from the view of her balcony which looked out over the grand, vibrant gardens of the ladies' palace.

It was five days since her dinner with Zahir, and she hadn't seen him again until that moment, where he now stood leaning against the door frame of the balcony doors, arms folded as he watched her.

"I'm leaving," Marie-Fey replied simply, gesturing to the other chair across from her, indicating for him to take a seat.

He bowed his head and stepped out onto the balcony, taking his place and they waited for his drink to be made and poured before they were alone again.

"The Sultan and his wife are delighted with you," he said lightly as he gently blew on his coffee.

"I can be greatly entertaining when I choose to be."

"I believe it."

"Have you repaired the damage to Zaydan's hand yet? You did cause it needlessly, after all."

"I have not," Zahir replied.

Marie-Fey levelled a glare at him. "Why?" she demanded.

"He does not need that hand at the present time," he said simply.

"That is his dominant hand."

"Actually, he's relatively comfortable with both hands, a quirk that has followed him from life to life," Zahir replied, "He will be fine, you needn't fuss. It will teach him to not go throwing himself in front of weaponry outside of the battlefield."

"If we disregard that you were trying to kill me, and he stopped a murder."

"Well naturally we disregard that, I failed after all," Zahir replied, pointing at her.

She pursed her lips and lifted her cup, then paused, glancing down at the liquid, before tossing it out of the cup and setting it back down.

Zahir started laughing, smiling approvingly at the empty cup.

"What did you do to it?"

"Made it toxic, your survival rate really is something," he said.

"Can you not just kill me with your magic? Do you need the knives and poisons?"

"No, I can kill you in an instant, no weapon required."

"Then, though I do hate to ask, why are you holding back? You're not above killing me, and you're not holding back for Zaydan's sake if you just turned my tea to toxins. Why do you hesitate?"

Zahir considered the question for a moment, his cheek on his knuckles as he thought about it. While he was quiet, the tea pot hovered off the table and poured Marie-Fey a fresh cup and she raised an eyebrow at it.

"It seems like a disservice to you," he finally replied.

"Killing me is certainly a disservice," she agreed.

He smiled. "I would do you the honour of killing you by my own merit, not with cheap tricks of simply stopping the heart with a snap of the fingers."

A chill ran down Marie-Fey's spine at the words even as she steadily watched him. She disliked being in the presence of someone that powerful.

"You are not like my other wives. You are different, you are special. It is why my mother in this life chose you for me over Zaydan. I will give you the chance to best me. You are welcome to try and kill me first in this life – just like Madeline did – and you may get to live out the rest of this life in peace. I might not even drag you into the next life and lock you away like Madeline."

"Goodness, you're too kind," Marie-Fey said, her tone dry.

"I think so. Just know though, if you kill me, you'll kill Zaydan as well."

Marie-Fey frowned, narrowing her eyes at him and he smiled, before pulling up the sleeve of one arm. Wrapped around his wrist was the scars of chains, mimics of those wrapped around Zaydan's neck.

"I'm afraid we're connected," Zahir said lightly, then shrugged. "But it's alright. You don't need to look at it as if you're killing him for good. We'll be back in the next life I choose, and the loop will start again."

"Do you enjoy your existence?" Marie-Fey asked, leaning back in her seat and folding her hands in her lap.

Zahir raised an eyebrow, then considered. "Yes," he finally replied, "I am content with the way I exist."

"Do you not feel any guilt for the lives you've destroyed?"

"No," Zahir replied, his voice sure. "I realised this is uncomfortable for many people to understand, but I do not. I have no reason to."

"Zaydan hurts because of what you've done. He can feel the wicked things you've done over your lifetimes, and what he's done, in his core. It hurts him. Do you not feel any guilt for that?"

Zahir just gave her a helpless shrug. "I cannot feel that which is not there," he said.

Marie-Fey chuckled at that, shaking her head. "You are the worst type of person to come into possession of a gods' gift."

Zahir smiled in response. "I am aware," he said. "Would you be interested in being reborn into another life, another time and family, if given the chance?"

Marie-Fey thought about it for a moment, tilting her head. "I feel I would be incomplete as anything other than a Leigh."

"Hmm, yes, I see what you say. To bring back one feels like one should bring back all six. Some of those siblings do not need to dominate the world a second time."

"Will they naturally be reborn anyway?"

"You're asking me?"

"Death seems to be your speciality."

Zahir smiled, then shrugged. "It is unlikely, rebirth is not what they believe in, I would assume at least."

"It's not," she confirmed.

"Then you have your answer," Zahir said simply, "Belief is a large part of enchantment and death. Whether you kill me first, I kill you, or we live out our days until this life naturally draws to a close, we are unlikely to meet again unless I drag you back into this world. Does it ease you, in any way, to know that I am giving you permission to attempt to kill me and save the women of this lifetime?"

"Not particularly."

"No?"

"No, because you will come back and the cycle will start again. Women who have not even been given the chance to be born yet, are scheduled to die by your hand of your next life. Killing you in this life does not solve the problem."

"And what do you hope to do to fix this?"

"I do not know," Marie-Fey admitted simply.

"You realise it is not your responsibility to save these people, correct?"

"But it's not about responsibility," Marie-Fey said, "It's about what is right and what is wrong. This instance, you're in the wrong and I wish to make it right."

Zahir nodded at that. "Maybe this is why my mother favoured you."

He shrugged and pushed to his feet again.

"Do not rush yourself, we have this entire lifetime," he said, smiling as he turned towards the doors again. "I will not attempt to kill you again until you have made your move. And when I next make my move, it will be face to face. You will lose those you are trying to protect along the way, you must accept that, and you are welcome to give up at any time, I shall think not less of you. If you choose to step down and not attempt to harm me, I will promise to return the favour, it still benefits me to not make enemies of your family."

"Does it not scare you at all? Such talk of death and you discuss it like taking tea."

Zahir gave her a confused look. "I have died too many times to fear it. There is nothing to fear when I can do it over again and again. You are more of a conundrum. We are also talking about your possible death and yet you are handling it as calmly as I am. Are you not afraid of dying?"

"I'm afraid of dying," Marie-Fey replied, "Each attempt on my life has left me afraid, but I have greater fears that come with lesser consequences."

"Oh?"

Marie-Fey smiled. "I can have some rather dramatic social anxieties heightened by some of my company back in my home country."

"Now who would dare make my wife feel socially uncomfortable?"

"You would know that if you ever bothered to act the proper husband," Marie-Fey pointed out, folding her arms on the table, "Alas, you did not give me the appropriate time of day thus your brother stepped in to help me save face. I feel you owe me for causing me such hardships in the social sphere."

Zahir snorted and turned back to her, folding his arms and leaning against the doorframe. "Quite right, what would you like?"

Marie-Fey considered for a moment. "If I fail on my first attempt to end you, you will give me another chance before retaliating. To say that you are in the stronger position puts it mildly."

"Very well," Zahir said, nodding, "You will get two chances before I make my move. Use them well." He straightened and bowed, turning away as Marie-Fey looked out over the city.

"And don't take the chance from me just yet?'

"Sorry?"

"The chance to come back in another life, to meet again without being locked away in that underground grave. Who knows, I may want another chance in the future."

She turned to look at him as he watched her in return. He was quiet for a long, long moment, then gave a single nod.

"Alright," he said, his voice low, "I won't think of the possibility as off the table just yet. I am unlikely to bring your family back with you. Even if I do, it's not so simple. You may never meet them again. And your youngest brother is likely to never come back. He's too connected to the gods; I cannot control his rebirth. Your younger sister might prove troublesome as well."

"I understand," Marie-Fey said as a knock echoed through the apartments and Zaydan was let in.

He froze at the sight of his brother and Zahir tilted his head as he looked at Zaydan.

"Zay," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Control yourself, I don't want rumours spreading about you two behind my back."

"Sorry," Zaydan muttered.

Zahir let out a breath. "Well, no matter. My wife is returning soon enough. I assume you're staying here."

Zaydan glanced at him then looked away again.

"I see," Zahir said, frowning. "I will have you remain, Zaydan."

"Yes, I know, but if I could just—"

"No," Zahir cut in. "I will have you st—"

He paused and looked down as Marie-Fey neatly planted herself between the pair, standing in front of Zaydan with her hands on her hips.

"I would have him return with me," she said bluntly.

"Oh?" Zahir said, raising an eyebrow.

"I have need for him. He may return within the next month."

"What need for him?"

"I will not travel back across the desert without someone I trust," Marie-Fey said simply.

"Ah. Because of your last incident."

"Attempted assassination, yes, that one. While the person behind the attack is dead, my heightened agitation remains. I trust Zaydan, you will let him return. Else I'll be forced to remain here, and we do not want that. I caused quite a bit of drama on my first day and quietened down after that. We don't want me to begin causing more drama, I'm sure."

Zahir smirked. "Sure indeed," he said, a growl in his low voice, before nodding. "Fine," he said, the word like a bite, "You may travel home with Marie-Fey, and you will return within a month or so. And you will return with Zaafira."

Zaydan's eyes widened as Marie-Fey's narrowed.

"What would you want with her?" she asked, her voice dark.

"I think I'll add another to my little collection," Zahir said, smiling.

Marie-Fey was quiet for a moment, then frowned. "Why?" she asked.

"We've discussed this at the beginning of the week, I—"

"Not that. Why have her brought here? Some of those women lost were killed within the palace, never having left for the capital. Why do you need to drag her here?"

Zahir smiled, his brow quirking. "Well," he said, his voice low, "She is still one of my women, she has multiple uses."

Marie-Fey's eyes narrowed and Zahir strolled passed, opening the doors to the apartment before pausing.

"Ah, Lady Rais," he said, looking back at her. "You want to travel back with Zaydan, very well. But it's always one thing for something else."

"What do you want?" Marie-Fey growled out, turning to him.

"Simple. You don't get two chances anymore before I get to try and kill you," Zahir said simple.

"What?" Zaydan asked, his voice weak as Marie-Fey glared at him.

"I'll see you off tomorrow when you leave," Zahir continued politely, "If you want the second chance, he stays behind. If you want his company, you give up the second chance. Simple." He bowed his head to her. "Goodnight."

With that, he swept out and closed the doors behind him.