Page 23 of A City of Hearts and Feathers

"Clean living built this body," he replied before slinging the cotton kitchen towel over his shoulder and turning back to the stove. "What are your questions?"

"Ahh," Zoe struggled to remember what she had been thinking about before the display of brown skin, tattoos, and the dark dusting of his treasure trail. "Um. Oh! I remember. I foundbaba'sledger with all his sales and acquisitions. You said he sold to everyone, right?"

"It was the Kartal way to make lots of friends and very few enemies," Kahil replied, turning over the lamb koftes he had under the grill. "What's worrying you about that?"

Zoe licked some stray hummus from her finger. "I'm worried that he was into black market antiquities trading. He wrote every transaction out by hand. Nothing about the business was digital."

Kahil went back to chopping. "And that makes you suspect him of black market dealings? I'm afraid it's not as mysterious as you think. Some of the creatures he dealt with are ancient beings. They believe that writing is magical and that it seals thedeal better than electric things do. Most operators dealing with magically inclined people will keep physical records of things. Why do you think you had to sign an actual contract today at the Order?"

"I didn't think of that at all," Zoe replied, putting down her simit. "I feel like such an idiot."

"Why? You have only been in this world two days. You don't know anything at all. Don't worry about it so much." Kahil went to the fridge and took out two beers when Zoe nodded in agreement. She really needed a drink. He popped the top of it before passing it to her. "It was a good question, Zoe, and I don't know the answer to it. Kerem was closest to him. If anyone knows if he dealt with the black market, it's him."

"If he did, it doesn't really matter, I suppose. It will just be one more thing I had no idea about." Zoe took a swig of her beer and hoped it would wash some of the bitterness down.

"Are you always this hard on yourself?" Kahil asked, brows drawing together. "You were a child, and afterwards, your mother kept you from our world to protect you. I might not agree with her doing that, but it wasn't the wrong thing to do either."

Zoe scoffed. "How wasn't it? Magic isreal,and my family has a legacy I never knew anything about!"

"Okay, say you had stayed here in Istanbul…" Kahil said, crossing his arms and leaning back against the counter. "You were a child who had no idea both light and dark forces wanted something from you. They could have kidnapped you, raised you up to be light or dark. Groomed you and taken your choices away. As soon as you inherited the bookstore, they would have expected you to do everything in your power to find the codex and then give it to them. And you would have because they would have been the creatures that raised you."

Zoe's beer sloshed uncomfortably in her stomach. "Okay, I get your point. I just don't like that Anita said nothing evenwhen I became an adult. There has always been this part of me missing, and I never knew what it was."

"You must have had an inkling to go into book restoration of all things."

Zoe shrugged. "I guess. Books have just always made me feel safe. The wards on the shop explain that too. The outside world can't come in here unless I let it."

Kahil's expression softened. "You don't need to know about everything straight away. I'm here to protect you, but I can also guide you, so you aren't doing this alone."

"Like my very own Virgil?" she asked.

"Bella mia,pray that in our time together I don't have to lead you through hell," Kahil replied with a laugh. He pinched one of her olives and quickly ate it. "Besides, the seven circles of Istanbul are going to be far more enjoyable to explore." He licked the oil from his thumb and went back to cooking, leaving Zoe more flustered than ever.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Kahil never thought he would be someone with a food kink, but watching the surprise on Zoe's face when he set dinner in front of her was priceless.

"Why are you looking so surprised? You just watched me cook all of this," he said, a bubble of laughter in his voice that he couldn't contain.

"I know. It's just… No one cooks for me. I really appreciate it," she replied, unfolding a napkin and placing it on her lap. "What are we eating?"

"Lamb kofte, pomegranate fattoush, and couscous. Easy thrown together dinner. I'm thrilled that you are so impressed though. It does good things for my ego."

Zoe laughed. "I don't think your ego needs any encouragement. You flirt with absolutely everyone."

"And have you seen me talk with everyone? Or just you? Because I don't think only you counts as everyone," Kahil questioned, just to see her ears turn pink.

Zoe scooped some couscous onto her plate. "Ah huh. Well, I'm sure you are flirting with me just to try and get under my skin."

"Or under your clothes," he pointed out. She was as red as the pomegranate seeds in the fattoush.

"Keep it up. I won't let your bad manners annoy me," she said, pointing her fork at him.

"I'm not doing it to annoy you, Zoe. I'm doing it because you're pretty. Do you know how long it's been since I've guarded anyone pretty? Too damn long," he answered honestly. "It makes my work much more enjoyable."

Zoe shook her head at him. "You are incorrigible."

"And you can't take a compliment to save your life. What is wrong with English men? Have they stopped learning how to be charming to a beautiful woman?"

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