Page 21 of A City of Hearts and Feathers (The Order of Anubis #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

K ahil left Zoe to get ready after Emre had dropped off a dress provided by his sister. He had been on his way to a night study group and had teased Zoe about clubbing mid-week.

When Zoe had disappeared into the bathroom, Emre had given Kahil the eye and said sternly, "Protect her in that fucking viper pit. She's too sweet for what she's walking into."

"Nothing will happen to her. I don't like it either, but you know this is about as polite as Akamos is going to get," Kahil had replied, crossing his arms.

"I know. Just look out for her." Emre had smiled slyly at him. "She likes you, you know?"

"And what makes you think that?" Kahil had said, warmth spreading through him.

"I can tell. Also, she told Azi she's crushing on you. Maybe the night won't suck so bad if you make it into a date. That is, if you can remember how to be charming?"

"Are you trying to play matchmaker, kid?"

Emre had shrugged. "I want Zoe to be happy. For some unknown reason she likes your grumpy ass, so maybe you should think about taking the risk. She might be able to put a smile on your face."

Emre had headed out, leaving Kahil even more nervous about the night ahead. He could be charming; he was sure of it. It had just been a while like everything else.

The bathroom wasn't big enough for both of them to get ready, and he wanted to pick up some more weapons before they headed out to the club, so Kahil went home.

The Order's apartments were busy with members returning from a job in Alexandria. He smiled and nodded at a few but hurried up to his own apartment without stopping to chat. It wasn't like he didn't have good relationships with them all; he just didn't really have friends.

Their business could be bloody, and after five hundred years, give or take, he had lost too many people to get attached again. It was why he was surprised how quickly Zoe had pushed through all his defenses.

Kahil had barely stepped out of the shower and pulled on some black trousers, when there was a knock on his door. He opened it to let Arslan in.

"How did you know I was back already? Do you have spies on me, old man?" he asked.

"There isn't much that happens on the Order grounds that I don't know about. I got your message about finding the next piece of the codex. I know that Oman could use magic like his brother, but I had no idea that he could pull off a concealment like that," Arslan replied.

Kahil updated him on the day's events, including finding the invite on Zoe's doorstep. Arslan stroked his beard, his face thoughtful.

"Akamos and Oman were friendly with each other. It makes sense that he would want to meet Oman's daughter. The timing of it is suspicious, but that is him in a nutshell," he said finally. "I know I don't need to tell you to watch our girl like a hawk."

"You don't. Her cousin already gave me an earful. I won't let anything happen to her. I'm going to take the right weapons with me just in case Akamos is feeling frisky. If he lays a hand on her, I'll cut it off." Kahil went to his wardrobe and pulled out a black silk button-up shirt. He wanted to blend in with the crowd of rich assholes that would no doubt be at the club.

"Am I detecting feelings right now?" Arslan teased gently.

Kahil knew there was no point in hiding it. "Possibly more than a few. I… I really like her. Probably too much. If I was a better person, I would pass her contract to Kerem, but I can't handle the thought of anyone else trying to protect her." He looked over at his master and oldest friend. "It makes me wonder if you saw something in the flames which is why you assigned me to her in the first place."

Arslan shook his head. "You know I never scry into other people's business like that. I wanted to give you an opportunity to heal the past. You have carried around Oman's death for two decades. I thought protecting our Zoe would be a way for you to finally let go of that guilt. The fact that she has finally brought back your smile and your cheekiness is just a bonus."

Kahil did up the buttons of his shirt. "Have I been that bad?"

"Yes. I was starting to really worry about you."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause you additional distress." Upsetting Arslan was the last thing he ever wanted to do. "I didn't expect to feel this way again about a person. I thought that these kinds of feelings just left with time."

"They never leave. They just go dormant until you find the right person again. Zoe seems to really like and trust you, far more than I imagined she would, considering that the first time she saw you, you were standing over her father's body." Arslan helped him with his cufflinks. "While I disapprove of fraternizing with people that are under contract with us, I am willing to overlook it this one time. Kerem will probably give you a hard time about it, but if Zoe feels the same as you do, then he will get over it. He has been worried about you too."

Kahil checked his reflection in the mirror and straightened his collar. "Is it weird that I am so nervous right now? We are just going out to a club. It's not like it's a real date or anything, and my hands are sweating."

Arslan chuckled. "It's because your affections are genuine for once. Zoe means something more to you. She's not just a possible fling. She is important. Deep down you know it, and that's why you are nervous. You shouldn't be. She obviously likes you."

Kahil grinned. "You're the second person to tell me that today. Unfortunately, neither of you is the person that I need to hear it from."

"Then perhaps you need to ask her for yourself? You are the bravest person I have ever met in my life, Kahil. You should have no problem telling a woman how you feel about her."

Kahil blew out a long breath. "I know. I just feel ridiculous. Maybe it is something that should wait until after the codex has been found, and it's no longer hanging over Zoe's head. I don't want to be another complication in her life."

"You will know when the moment is right, or the moment will choose itself for you." Arslan patted him on the back. "Just be honest with her. That's all you need to do. Zoe will take it from there. Good luck, my boy."

He headed for the door but paused. "Oh, and Kahil? Take only blessed blades with you. I don't like this feeling that has settled over my city. It is like it's holding its breath. In the past that has never been a good thing, so watch your back."

"And my front. And both my sides. Don't worry about me, old man."

Arslan laughed. "You know what they say… Old habits die hard."

Kahil found the weapons that he needed and an hour later was headed back to the bookstore. The night had cooled off a little, and anticipation curled in his chest. Maybe he should just man up and kiss Zoe. He always did action better than words.

Kahil was going through the front door of the shop, when he looked up and saw Zoe coming down the stairs. Every thought and every practiced line he'd had in his head promptly vanished.

"Wow," he whispered. She was wearing a black velvet dress that hugged her perfect hourglass figure. Her long hair was pinned up in an elegant style, and she wore no jewelry except for her talisman. Her red lips lifted in a welcoming grin.

"What do you think, bodyguard? Do I pass muster?" Zoe did a slow turn in her black heels, showing him the stretch of skin of her back and how the velvet clung to her amazing ass. Her voice pitched a little as she said, "I'm so lucky Azi is the same size as me too and had something I could wear on such late notice. Oh god, you better say something soon, Kahil, because you're making me more nervous just staring at me."

"I'm sorry, my brain has completely stopped working in front of so much perfection. It's still processing it," Kahil replied and was rewarded with a flush of color over her chest.

"Oh, well. Thank you," she said, her scent shifting a little with her nerves.

"Don't thank me. It's actually problematic how good you look right now. I'm going to spend the entire night having to fend people off you." Kahil wasn't trying to be charming. He was being blatantly honest. She looked like a delicious treat that everyone would try to get a bite of. Him included.

Zoe laughed softly. "If this club is as posh as Emre told me, I'm hardly going to be the only pretty girl in the room. I think we are going to be fine."

"Speak for yourself. I'm not fine at all," Kahil replied. He reached out and twirled a curl of her hair that rested on her bare neck. "You are distraction itself."

Zoe didn't push his hand away. She looked him over. "Look who's talking."

Kahil wanted to kiss her so badly, his lips burned. He stopped at the last minute, knowing that if he did, they would never leave the shop.

"We should go and get this over with," Zoe said.

"You are right. We should, because if I stand here any longer, I really am going to kiss you, and I won't be able to stop," he said, his brain still not working properly. He winced. "Fuck, I shouldn't have said that out loud."

Instead of telling Kahil he was acting like an idiot, Zoe held out a hand to him. She was smiling, but he could still smell her nerves, as if she was worried he'd reject her. Like that was ever going to happen.

Kahil took her hand, kissing her knuckles softly before twining their fingers together. "Let's do this."