Page 19 of A City of Hearts and Feathers (The Order of Anubis #1)

CHAPTER NINETEEN

W hen Kahil appeared again, he seemed to be more awake and able to function. Zoe was sad to see the gray shorts go, but there was nothing she didn't like about his beat-up jeans and black T-shirt combo. He sat down at the kitchen counter, and she placed a steaming cup of tea in front of him.

"I'm sorry about before. I'm not my best when I first wake up. If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize," he said, stirring sugar into his tea and not looking at her.

"Did I tell you to stop?" she asked.

His heavy black brows drew together. "No?"

"Then I was okay with it, and you don't need to apologize." Zoe cradled the warm cup to hide the nervous shake in her hands. She was so bad at flirting with someone she liked.

Kahil put more sugar in his tea, a smile she hadn't seen before lifting the corners of his mouth. It was shy and sweet and a little uncertain, all at the same time.

Zoe quickly looked away. I am in so much trouble.

"Now that you've managed to get me out of bed, why don't you tell me what all the excitement is about?" he said, smoothly changing the subject.

Zoe told him about going through Oman's office, and the conversation she'd had with her mother. "I know it sounds like a long shot, but I can't think of any other serpent related thing that my father was interested in apart from the column."

Kahil went to the fridge and got out the container of food that Belkis had sent back with Zoe the previous night. He put it in the microwave and leaned back against the kitchen cupboards.

He was silent for a full minute before he rubbed at his stubble. "It's not a long shot. The column did use to have three heads. Only part of one of the heads is now at the archaeological museum. The problem is that I don't know anywhere in that area that he could have safely stashed part of the codex. That square is always busy too. We can go and check it out after I eat something if you like."

The microwave beeped, but he ignored it.

"I could definitely use the outing. I'm used to walking every day as a part of my mental health plan, and I'm feeling a bit of cabin fever, to be honest," Zoe admitted and finished her tea. A stroll around Sultanahmet Square with a handsome man wouldn't be the worst way to spend an afternoon.

"The square is busy enough that no one is going to try and charm you or attack you around so many tourists. Although that talisman around your neck will certainly stop any of the nonsense we had last time," Kahil replied.

Zoe touched the pendant hanging on its silver chain. "Here's hoping. I don't relish the idea of getting kidnapped every time I walk out the door. It's exhausting worrying about it."

"It's not going to be forever, Zoe. Once we sort out this mess with the codex everyone will back off, and you will be able to live in this city normally. If it's what you want." Kahil took his food out of the microwave and went back to his chair.

"Is it completely crazy that I don't want to go back to London? I shouldn't feel this attached to a place so quickly. I even like the idea of trying to run the bookstore." Zoe pulled out the tie from her hair and rubbed her fingers over her scalp. "Anita said today that she thought that as soon as I returned to Istanbul, she would lose me. I think she might be right."

"Some cities get in your blood like that. I wasn't born in Istanbul, but I keep coming back to this city. Some places just feel right, like they are their own person, that you miss them when you are away for too long."

Zoe smiled at him because it was exactly how she was feeling. "If you are not from Istanbul, where are you from?"

"Italy," Kahil said and scooped more food into his mouth.

"That explains why you drop into that language when you are arguing with Kerem," Zoe replied. "It sounds like there is a good story behind how you ended up here."

Kahil thought about it. "I don't know about a good story, but it is a long one."

"You will have to tell me about it sometime. I'm interested to know how you became part of the Order."

"I'm sure I already told you the conditions of me opening up the box that I keep that tale in," he replied, a mischievous grin on his face.

Zoe rolled her eyes. "I am always a good girl, thank you very much."

Kahil's bright laughter filled the kitchen. "You are going to have to do better than that to get my secrets, balim ."

"I'll think of something to bribe you with. It shouldn't be too hard," she replied.

Kahil's eyes glowed. "I can give you some suggestions if you like."

"Let's go and check out the Serpentine Column first. I think this one is going to be harder to find than the others have been," Zoe said, her heart stuttering erratically.

It was going to be doubly tricky to follow her father's riddle because the snakeheads were missing. How would she know where they had been looking?

Kahil placed the empty container into the dishwasher. "Oman wasn't about to leave you a riddle that you couldn't figure out. You've been smart enough to follow the clues so far, so don't doubt yourself so much. You are a natural at this. Honestly, it is kind of annoying that you are so good at everything already. You aren't going to need your dear old Virgil to guide you for very long."

"I will just have to find another use for you, won't I?" Zoe said, looking up at him.

"I have many exceptional talents. What did you have in mind?"

Zoe pretended to think about it. "Cooking? Cleaning? I'm going to need someone tall to dust those high bookshelves for me downstairs, and you are so tall."

"You are definitely playing with fire today, sweet Zoe. Keep it up and see what it gets you," he replied.

Zoe fluttered her eyelashes at him. "Hopefully, clean bookshelves."

Kahil chucked her under the chin. "Let's go and check out this column before we lose the daylight, brat."