Page 14 of A City of Hearts and Feathers (The Order of Anubis #1)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Z oe was still shaking by the time Kahil stopped the bike in front of the store again. He helped her off and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Did he hurt you? Are you sore anywhere? Did he knock you out?" he demanded, looking her over and checking her head for injuries. He still had a furious gleam in his eyes, and she was worried he was about to shake her.

"I wasn't hit, Kahil. It was a song. I don't know. I just walked out of the Bazaar and got into the cab," she said, trying to remember.

"Fucking magic." Kahil pulled out his phone and held it to his ear. "Kerem? I need you come to the shop. Zoe's been glamoured." There was a loud squawk on the other end, and Kahil replied something in low, angry Turkish before hanging up. "He'll be here soon, and we'll find a way to make sure it's gone."

"Thanks for coming to get me. I couldn't get out," Zoe stammered, still feeling like he was about to yell at her.

Kahil's angry expression finally melted, and he surprised her by pulling her into a bone-crushing hug.

"I'm sorry for scaring you. When I realized you had been taken, I lost it. I'm not mad at you, balim, " he said, holding her tight.

Zoe's arms went around him, desperately needing to be comforted. So what if it was inappropriate? She sank into his strength and scent. Safe, safe, safe.

She didn't know how long they stood there, but Kahil didn't let go until she did.

"You threw a man off the bridge," she said and laughed awkwardly against his chest.

"That was the least he deserved, the rude prick. Don't worry about his well-being. The marids would have taken him to shore by now," he said, stroking her back until Zoe stopped trembling.

Kerem arrived shortly after, looking just as pissed as Kahil had been. By that time, Zoe was sitting on the couch, her knees tucked up to her chest as Kahil made them tea.

"Are you okay?" Kerem asked, sitting down beside her.

"Just shaken up a bit. Kahil saved me before anything bad could happen," Zoe replied.

Kerem's eyes darted to Kahil. "He should've never left you out of his sight."

" He didn't. I saw her being led off and went after her," Kahil snarled.

"Please don't fight with each other," Zoe moaned.

Kerem relented with a frustrated sigh. "Tell me everything that happened?"

Zoe did her best to explain how she went hot all over and then how she followed the music. She described the woman playing and the cab driver who led her away.

"Definitely an auditory charm. May I have a look at your ears?" Kerem asked. Zoe nodded, and he pulled out an otoscope from his satchel bag. It looked like the one that her regular doctor used, except it was carved with glyphs. "There're definitely remnants of an enchantment in there, but the magic is fading which is good. Did the driver touch you at all?"

"No. I got into the back seat on my own. He said he worked for the light," Zoe replied. She looked over at the bag that held her jewelry box. "He told me that I should give them the book."

"How ambitious of him to demand such a thing. I should have broken his neck before throwing him into the sea," Kahil grumbled.

"Take your bad mood outside," Kerem snapped at him. Kahil stormed out of the kitchen and up the stairs to the roof, the door slamming behind him.

"What is wrong with you two?" Zoe said, turning on Kerem.

"He was meant to be protecting you so you don't get kidnapped," Kerem muttered.

"He did protect me! It was my fault. I wandered off on him, not the other way around."

Kerem rubbed at his temples. "I'm going to get Arslan to make you a talisman to wear so that doesn't happen again. You have no control over enchantments at the moment."

"Exactly. So maybe don't be so hard on Kahil when he didn't do anything wrong."

Kerem's eyes narrowed. "I can and I will. Arslan should have had me look after you instead."

"Why? Because I'm your goddaughter?" she demanded.

"Yes. And because Kahil already failed to protect your father, and I won't have him failing to protect you too," Kerem snapped before his eyes went wide. "Zoe, I'm sorry. I just… Your father?—"

"He was your friend. I get it. You still need to lay off Kahil about it." Zoe crossed her arms. " Baba refused the Order's help! It's not Kahil's fault that he didn't get there in time. I walked in on him trying to save him. I may have thought he killed him, but I know that's just what my child's mind reacted to. Kahil came straight after me today without hesitation. He was there. He protected me, and I feel safe with him."

Kerem slumped back in his chair. "Okay, okay, I will apologize to him. It's been hard for me to move past your father's death, and Kahil is so irritating when he wants to be."

"I know, but he's only doing it because he feels like he deserves to be punished," Zoe said, and Kerem's brows shot up. "What? That never occurred to you?"

Kerem fidgeted. "Maybe you better go talk to him instead of me. You're the first person he's actually liked in a good fifty years."

Zoe tried to hide her smile. "You think so?"

"I know it. Now, go get him, and we can try and figure out what secret Oman left in this jewelry box for you. I'll message Arslan," Kerem replied, waving her off. "Oh, and Zoe? Do you care about the godfather thing?" He looked strangely nervous all of a sudden.

"No, I don't care. I wish I could have had you around more growing up, but we have time now," she said, trying not to sound too hopeful. She really liked Kerem when he and Kahil weren't bitching at each other.

"Thank you, Zoe. I would like that," he said, looking shyly down at his shoes. "Go and get Kahil. I won't fight with him, I promise."

Zoe found Kahil prowling along the rooftop garden like a caged cat. It was unfair how sexy he was glowering at the world. The Istanbul afternoon sun loved him, making his skin glow as golden as his eyes. He stopped pacing when he caught her watching him.

"Has Kerem left yet?" he asked as she joined him.

"No, but I told him off on your behalf."

Kahil frowned. "You did? What for?"

"I didn't like him trying to blame you for today. It was my fault. You told me to stay put, and I didn't. You saved me. Again," she said, bumping her shoulder against him.

"I should have known they would try something," Kahil said, glaring out at the city. "You are mine to protect, and they just took you."

"There was magic involved. Don't blame yourself."

"But I do!" He took her face in his hands, and her heart skipped a beat at the intensity in his golden eyes. "They could have hurt you, Zoe. Don't you get it? They will do whatever they need to in order to get that blasted codex. If I didn't catch that cab today because of the traffic, I might have lost you forever."

"But they didn't get me far. You found me in time." Zoe placed her hands on his forearms. "I'm fine, Kahil. Arslan will make me a talisman so I can't get enchanted so easily, and there will be no more wandering off on you."

Kahil brushed his thumbs over her cheeks, and for a second, she thought he might kiss her. Before she could consider how she would react to that, he dropped his hands away. Zoe took a ragged breath in as she stepped back from him, unsure if she was relieved or disappointed. It had been a while since she had been kissed, so it was probably for the best.

Kahil's heated expression slipped away, and he was back to being a teasing brat once more. "Talismans are all well and good, but maybe I should handcuff you to me to make sure no other enchantments have you wandering off. You know, as an extra precaution."

Zoe rolled her eyes at him. "I'll tell Arslan to make it an extra powerful talisman."

Kahil laughed, and the tension in his shoulders vanished. "I'll find my handcuffs anyway, just in case we need them for an emergency."

"You're ridiculous."

"That's what you like the most about me," he argued.

"I'm pretty sure it's your cooking," Zoe shot back. "If you've stopped pouting, I could use your help trying to find any hidden messages on the objects baba left me."

Kahil nodded. "Okay. Pouting is stopping."

"Good, because I need all the help I can get." Zoe stopped him when they reached the door. She rose up on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "That's for coming to rescue me today. Ripping car doors off and throwing people into the sea was very impressive, and I'm glad I have you on my side."

"You're welcome. Any time. Thanks," he stammered, looking genuinely shocked for once.

Zoe headed down the stairs, grinning from ear to ear.