Page 73 of A City of Hearts and Feathers

"Do you want to know why the maenads are still pissed off at me?" he asked.

"Y-Yes," Zoe wheezed.

Kerem had one hand placed on Zoe's shoulders, ready to brace her if needed.

"I had a family come and complain to me that maenads had kidnapped their daughter and were making her perform in their rites," Kahil began, stroking her face gently. "Even the wild maenads have to get consent these days, and even though the woman refused to leave them, she definitely had been taken. She refused to press any charges against the maenads. I didn't like that they got away with it, so I snuck into their groves where they have these massivepithoito brew their wine in. I pissed in all of them and resealed them. I didn't tell them until after Anthesteria, one of their major partying weeks when they open the vintages from the previous year to drink while they feast."

Zoe began to wheeze with laughter. Arslan used the moment to pour some of the elixir in her stomach wound, and she screamed.

"Breathe, Zoe! Just breathe. It won't last long," Kahil said, tears tracking down his face. Kerem held her as she writhed, looking hollow-eyed but determined.

"It's over, Zoe," Arslan crooned softly. Kahil looked at the wound, seeing the organs and flesh mend. Zoe breathed in shuddering gasps, her hands clutching at Kahil.

"Help her sit, Kahil. She needs to drink the rest of this," Arslan said. Kahil lifted Zoe gently and climbed on the bed behind her.

"Lean back here in my arms,balim,right where you belong," he said, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I'm scared," she whispered in his ear.

Kahil kissed her softly. "Don't be. I'll be right here with you always. Anubis isn't going to have you yet, my love. I promise."

Arslan passed him the open jar. "You do it,nipote."

"Zoe, open your mouth for me," Kahil said and held her chin. "I can't make you drink. This choice is yours."

"Do it," she whispered. He pulled her mouth open and tilted the jar. With tears streaming down both of their faces, Zoe drank until it was empty.

Kahil moved the jar from her and kissed her forehead. "I love you, Zoe," he whispered as her eyes closed.

Kerem slumped down in a chair, and Arslan took the empty jar from Kahil. "And now we wait to see if her soul returns."

Kahil curled around her and prayed like he'd never prayed before.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Zoe was walking by a river, its waters swirling with dark purple and blue light. Tall reeds and blue lotus flowers lined the banks. She walked barefoot across black sand, a black jackal keeping her company. She wasn't afraid of him or of being so close to the river. They walked by palm trees with a crescent moon and a galaxy of brilliant stars above her.

"I have to go back," Zoe said to the jackal. "I don't want to be here without him."

The jackal shifted into a human form, his black eyes filled with ancient kindness. His voice was like soft thunder in her mind. "If you return, your heart will belong as much to me as it does to him."

"I can deal with that. I'm not a great warrior, but whatever skills and magic I have in my blood, I will devote to Ma'at," she replied. She went down to her knees before the Lord of the Sacred Lands, Counter of Hearts, Master of Secrets. "Please, he has served you so faithfully and deserves the love I want to give him. I will serve you just as faithfully, for all the days I have."

Anubis's hand reached out to her and helped her stand. In his hand was a glistening, pulsing heart. "Return, daughter.And serve long and well." The god shoved her heart back into her chest and the galaxy above her exploded with light.

Zoe's eyesfelt like they had been taken out, rolled in sand, and shoved back in their sockets. She blinked rapidly and stared at the roof above her, trying to will the paralysis to leave her body. The dream was leaving her, and her chest ached, her pulse beating too fast.

Anubis gave me back my heart,she thought sleepily.

Zoe flexed her fingers and toes, and slowly her body came back online. She drank the glass of water beside the bed. Not her bed. The sheets were black and gray.

Kahil's bed. Mmm Kahil.Zoe sat up and realized she was dressed in one of his T-shirts. It smelled like him and reached her knees. She rubbed her face and tried to remember how she'd gotten back to the Order.

Zoe's breath caught as it all came back to her in a rush. Burning the book, the bookstore, Ahmet… She pulled up the shirt. A long pink scar stretched across her stomach. She'd been… Wait! How long had she been asleep?

Zoe stood on shaky feet and walked out of the bedroom. Kahil was standing in the kitchen cutting up fruit and wearing a pair of his sexy gray sleep shorts.

"Hey," she croaked.

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