Page 28 of A City of Hearts and Feathers

Zoe 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."

"Hedidn'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'redefinitely 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.

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