Page 29 of A City of Hearts and Feathers (The Order of Anubis #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

T he Galatasaray Bathhouse was almost as old as Kahil. Established in 1481, during the reign of Bayezid II, it had been open for over five hundred years.

It was close enough to the bookstore that Kahil and Zoe decided to walk to it the following day. She claimed she needed the walk to think, and Kahil wanted to do anything in his power to help her.

A part of him—the increasingly loud, overprotective part of him—wanted to throttle Oman's ghost for putting the responsibility of the Sais Codex onto her shoulders. Why not leave it to one of his brothers who knew what they were up against?

Zeki Kartal was deeply enmeshed in the magical world. Ahmet, while he believed in science's superiority over magic, thought like a merchant and would have sold it to the highest bidder and washed his hands of it. Kahil didn't have to think too hard about why Oman didn't leave the codex to Ahmet, but Zeki was reliable and level-headed.

It was just one of the many questions Kahil had to let go of regarding the whole mess. Oman hadn't been in his right mind in the end, that was for damn sure. Kerem had worried for him enough to send Kahil to check on him because he'd been on a job in Romania at the time. Kahil should've taken the threat more seriously.

"You are suddenly looking more worried than I am," Zoe said, pulling him out of his head.

"Not worried, just trying to understand your father's reasoning with this treasure hunt." Kahil put his arm around her shoulders. "At least the company is good."

Zoe gave his ass a pat. "I think so. I'd love to spend some time in this bathhouse, getting a massage. I think I need it."

"The one at the Order is better, and I will be able to come with you and provide my massaging services. I am very good with my hands," Kahil said sincerely.

Zoe's full belly laugh made him grin like a fool. "I know. If you can make it so we don't get interrupted, I'll happily go for a steam with you tonight."

They were going to move back to the Order as soon as they got the next codex piece. Kahil had to admit, he had been relieved when Arslan had suggested it. Oman's wards were good, but he couldn't trust that one of Lydia's followers, or the combined effort of all of them, wouldn't be able to bust through them.

From the outside, the blocky gray building didn't look like a bathhouse. If it wasn't for the eye-catching yellow sign, Kahil would have walked past it all together.

"Maybe you should let me go first?" Zoe suggested.

Kahil crossed his arms. "And why is that? I am your bodyguard. I'm meant to go with you everywhere."

Zoe gestured at him. "You are intimidating as hell. I have the receipt for baba's locker, so maybe I'll get further with the staff if you aren't scowling at them."

"Okay, let's do it your way. If it looks like you need some assistance, I'll come in," Kahil replied, hiding his smile.

"I'll be right back," she said and went through the glass doors. Kahil watched as she approached the male attendant at the counter who inspected the receipt. He made gestures at her and shook his head. Zoe put her hands on her hips, but whatever she was saying wasn't working. She turned and waved at Kahil.

Kahil chuckled under his breath before stepping inside. The air was warm and humid. He could smell the rose-scented soaps used in the hammam and the laundry detergent they used on the towels.

"Ah, Mister Reis, so good of you to come to our establishment," the man said, all of his bluster vanishing.

"What seems to be the problem?" he said, coming to stand beside Zoe.

"This man won't let me go in and check baba's locker," Zoe replied. She gave the attendant a scathing look. "Even though I have a receipt, and it's been fully paid for the past twenty years."

The man looked to Kahil. "It's not like that. That locker is in a private area, reserved for our special guests. No women are allowed in there."

"Then there should be no problems with me retrieving it," Kahil said. The man still looked nervous, so Kahil smiled. "I am not here to investigate you or the bathhouse. We are just here for the contents of the locker. I won't look anywhere that I shouldn't."

The man seemed to realize he had no choice in the matter and nodded. "She can't go with you. This way, Mr. Reis."

Zoe didn't look amused, but she still sat down in the waiting room and picked up a magazine. Kahil followed the man past the main bathing areas and through a locked wooden door. The magic hit Kahil straight away, and he knew what the man had meant by it being a private area. It was for the magical community only. He could smell opium in the air and the occasional hit of hashish, but he did as he had promised and didn't look too closely at what was going on through the doors of the steaming areas.

"I was starting to think that no one would ever return for this locker. I wasn't game enough to do anything with it until the rental money ran out on it. You never know how long the lifespans of our clients are," the bathhouse attendant said. He took a golden key from his pocket and unlocked the polished wooden door. Kahil stopped him from opening it.

"Thank you for your help. I will take it from here," he said and tried to give the man another friendly smile.

"Of course, take as long as you need. You can find your way back to the reception, yes?"

"I won't be long," Kahil reassured him. There was no way he would leave Zoe alone for longer than he had to. His beautiful girl had a way of attracting trouble.

Kahil opened the locked door and found a red leather folio with an envelope sitting on top of it. He didn't feel any warding magic, so he pulled them out. His name was written on the envelope in Oman's now familiar writing. He opened it and pulled out the blue paper.

Dear Kahil,

If you are reading this, my vision of my death has proven accurate. I am sorry that we never got a chance to get to know each other better, and for the wild goose chase I have sent you and my dearest Zoe on around Istanbul.

This is the final piece of the codex. I have no others hidden around the city. Please give it to Zoe so that she can put all the pieces together once more. I don't know what your relationship to her is—my vision wasn't that clear—but I know that you care for her.

Please guard her for me, or ask Kerem to do it. I don't know who killed me, and I fear that she won't be safe until this codex has been passed on. I wish I never heard of the cursed thing, and I trust no one with it but my Zoe.

Hug her for me, will you?

Tell Kerem that I'm sorry I didn't listen to his advice.

Oman Kartal.

"Well, fuck," Kahil muttered, reading through the letter again before putting it into his pocket. There was nothing else in the locker, so he shut the small door and went to find Zoe.

The attendant was back at his post behind the counter, his eyes watching Zoe carefully like he didn't trust her.

"Thank you. You may rent the locker again," Kahil told him, making him jump in surprise.

"Please come again, Mr. Reis," the attendant said. His eyes dropped to the folio, and Kahil moved it from his sight.

"I wouldn't concern yourself with what I have," Kahil warned, a growl creeping into his voice. The man had the wisdom to look away.

Zoe got up and followed Kahil outside. He passed her the folio. "This is the last one."

"How do you know?" she asked, and Kahil gave her the letter.

"He saw me coming to get it."

Kahil glanced around the street, suddenly feeling too exposed. He didn't trust the attendant not to blab to his clients. He was too well connected to the magical world to not know about the Sais Codex.

Now you are getting as paranoid as Oman.

"Read the letter once we get back to the shop, balim . We need to move," he said, taking her hand.

Zoe put the folio into her satchel bag and out of sight. "What is it?"

"I don't know, but I'll feel safer once we get back to the Order." Kahil wouldn't lie to her, and he didn't want to freak her out either.

Zoe didn't question him, her fingers only tightened around his. "My bags are packed. Let's grab them and go back to your place."

"Hmm, I like the idea of you in my place," Kahil said, trying to lighten the sudden tenseness.

Zoe only rolled her eyes at him. "I agreed to go and stay at the Order for the library."

Kahil brought her in for a quick kiss. "You keep telling yourself that."