Page 70 of A City of Hearts and Feathers

"You are going to do great," Arslan said, kissing her cheek. He lifted the Anubis head up on his cloak to cover most of his face and went and sat down at the place in the center of the table in between light and dark. The balance in human form.

Kahil squeezed her hand before he and Kerem lifted their own hoods and moved behind her to protect her back.

With shaking hands, Zoe pulled out the red folio and opened it so they could all see the hieratic script. It hummed with the magic she had asked Zeki's help to put on. The crowd went quiet, everyone's eyes turning to her.

"T-Thank you all for coming," Zoe said and tried to remember how to project her voice. "I know you have all waited a long time for my family to decide what to do with this Sais Codex."

"A decision that would have been sorted earlier if someone hadn't sent assassins after your father," Lydia interrupted, staring daggers at Akamos.

"Are you trying to accuse me of something, pet?" he asked, twirling the wine in his glass. "You have no proof of any assassination attempt, and I had no motivation."

Lydia scoffed. "You are evil. You always have motivation. Stop this debacle, girl, and I'll give you five million euros for the book."

"Tell her to go fuck herself, and I'll give you seven million," Akamos said, a glimmer of trouble in his eyes.

"Enough!" Zoe shouted, losing her temper. Arslan grinned form beneath his hood. "If you will all shut up for a moment, I'm trying to tell you that there will be no auction tonight."

The crowd started to murmur, and the serene smile slipped from Lydia's face. Her eyes filled with cold fury.

"What are you talking about, sweet Zoe?" Akamos asked.

Zoe held the book up. "Both light and dark have harassed, coerced, and attempted to kidnap me since I came to Istanbul. My father died for this book and one of you is to blame. The truth is I trust no one with the knowledge contained in this codex, so none of you will have it."

Before anyone could stop her, Zoe tossed the codex into the heart of the brazier. Lydia screeched, her followers racing forward to try and save it. Akamos's guards moved at the same time, and they all got in each other's ways so much that none of them got to it before there was nothing but ash and curling, burned leather.

Kahil grabbed Zoe's hand and pulled her out of the way. "Well, that got their attention."

Dark and light ones all turned their burning anger onto Zoe.

"You did say you'd support me," she squeaked out.

"Always and forever, my love." Kahil whistled loudly and suddenly cloaked figures appeared around the ruins, coming through the trees, standing along the walls around them and in the windows of the stone facade. The Order was out inforce. Zoe's breath caught as howls echoed in a hunting chorus. Large wolves appeared to surround them, their glowing eyes all focused on the mob in front of them. Kahil had called in Septimus and his pack.

"Get them out of here!" Arslan commanded, rising to his feet and pulling his scimitar free.

Cyrus appeared behind Zoe and Kahil, and before either of them could stop him, the ifrit's magic burned about them and they were gone.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

They landed in the street outside of the Kartal bookstore. Zoe stumbled backward, and Kahil caught her around the waist as her knees gave out.

"Go and help Arslan!" Kahil said, and Cyrus blipped out again. Kahil turned on Zoe. "Get inside the shop, love. I need to scout about and get some of the other Order members to act as lookouts around the street. I don't trust Lydia not to come and attack us the first chance she gets."

"Kahil, I'm sorry about the book. I know you wanted it for Arslan, but there's something?—"

Kahil clasped her face in his big hands. "It changes nothing between us, Zoe.Nothing. I just need to get the area safe, and we can talk about it. Okay?"

Zoe nodded. "Okay. I'll be inbaba'soffice."

Kahil gave her one of his hard, searing kisses before letting her go.

"I won't be long," he assured her, pulling out his phone. "Kerem! Get Cyrus to sift you home. We need backup."

Zoe went inside the bookstore, her hands shaking so much, it took her three tries to get the key into the lock.

"It's over. It's over," she chanted to herself. She went over to an incense burner and lit some sandlewood, the familiar smell calming her.

She needed to speak with Kerem, Arslan, and Kahil as soon as they all returned. She had to explain why she had refused to sell the book and ask Arslan the hardest question of all.

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