Page 32 of A City of Hearts and Feathers

"Zoe, my dear, Kahil told me you found numbers in your storybook that coincided with the meeting with Hasan, yes?" Arslan asked her.

"Yes, why?" she said, turning over one of the pages.

"Because I think I've found some more," Arslan said, finally getting her attention.

"What?"

Arslan pulled up the velvet lining from the bottom of the box. There was something scrawled in Arabic in gold paint along with a string of numbers. "It's the name of the person who made the box. The date could mean nothing."

"Except it's the same week beforebabadied," Zoe pointed out. She grabbed Oman's organizer and flipped through the pages until she found the date. There wasn't a meeting, just a line of text.

"Triple-headed snakes dance high to watch the ground I grow," she read out loud. "What the hell does that mean?"

"A riddle. Oman isn't going to make it easy for you," Arslan said, sipping his tea.

Zoe's phone started buzzing, and she pulled it out of her handbag. "Hello?"

"Zoe, my darling, I'm cooking you dinner tonight," Belkis said, the noise of children in the background.

"Ah, Aunty, I'm a little busy. I have Kerem and Arslan here with me."

"Excellent. Bring them too! I've made far too much food as usual. I've even convinced your Uncle Ahmet to leave his lab and eat with us," Belkis said. She moved her mouth away from the phone and called something out. "Azize is babysitting her friend's girls too. It will be a lovely gathering. I'll see you in an hour!" Belkis hung up before Zoe could protest.

"I hope you guys are hungry. Belkis is in party mode," she said with a resigned sigh.

"I can always eat when your lovely aunt is the one doing the cooking," Arslan replied.

"Riddle solving can wait, Zoe. In my experience, Belkis always gets her way, so it's better not to fight her." Kerem smiled fondly. "Did she say Azize was going to be there?"

"Yes, along with her friend's children and god knows who else," Zoe said with a laugh.

Arslan patted her on the shoulder. "It's good. You need more family around you, and a little normality to keep you sane until this business with the codex is done."

Zoe didn't haveexperience with anything resembling family gatherings and felt completely out of her depth. She stood behind Kerem as they got to Belkis's front door in Kurtulus, and she wished that Kahil was there for backup.

According to Arslan, Kahil needed to take care of something and was staying behind. She didn't question it because Kerem and Arslan were more than capable of protecting her. Kahil's smartass flirting had grown on her far too quickly, and it was probably a good idea to have a break from her new flat mate and bodyguard.

Zoe's phone vibrated, and she hung it up straightaway. Arslan raised a brow at her.

"It's Mom. I can't deal with her bullshit right now," Zoe said. She also didn't want to have to listen to the guilt trip Anita was going to serve her. Not when she was about to walk into another family situation where she wanted to make a good impression.

"Zoe's here!" Belkis bellowed before opening the door. "Welcome, welcome. Arslan, Kerem, it's so nice to see you. Where is my favorite boy?"

"Kahil is busy tonight, but he's asked if you would send him back some dinner," Kerem replied.

"The nerve of him not coming to see me! I'll make sure he doesn't starve, but he better make it up to me." Belkis hugged Zoe and kissed her cheek before leading her inside. Two older men stood when they entered, and Zoe's heart squeezed. They both looked like younger versions of her father.

"Ah, look at my baby niece," Zeki said, pulling her into a tight hug. He had wild, curly gray and black hair and a full beard. "You grew up so beautiful."

"I told you," Belkis called to her husband.

"It's nice to see you again," Zoe replied. She was let go and embraced instantly by Ahmet. He was the youngest, and the complete opposite of Zeki. He still wore his work suit, was freshly shaven, and didn't have a single hair out of place.

"Welcome home, niece. How are you finding the bookstore?" he asked.

"Exactly how I remember it. I'm going to have to make a catalogue of all ofbaba'sbooks because I have no idea what is still in there. How is work? You're a doctor, right?" Zoe said.

"A researcher in genetics," Ahmet clarified for her.

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