Page 34 of A City of Hearts and Feathers

"My mother knew about all of this and never said a word," Zoe replied, lifting her head from her hands. "She keeps calling, and I don't know what to do about that either."

"I can't remember her, but she sounds high maintenance. Call her back when you're ready to talk to her and hear her out. You are angry at her, and she knows it, so maybe make sure you're calm first," Azize replied. She grinned. "For now, drink Raki, eat food with handsome men, and don't worry about it."

Zoe laughed. "That sounds like the best idea I've heard all day."

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Something had been pissing around Zoe's bookstore. Kahil's sensitive nose burned with the scent of ammonia as he followed the trail through the surrounding neighborhood.

Zoe going out with Arslan and Kerem was the perfect opportunity for him to deal with the culprit. He regretted not getting the chance to be fed and coddled by Belkis, but having a bunch of Lykos trying to mark Zoe's shop as their territory couldn't go unchallenged.

Kahil found the perpetrator loitering outside a restaurant, smoking. He didn't have a chance to react before Kahil smashed the cigarette against his face, followed by a swift uppercut. Kahil dragged the wheezing wolf shifter down a side alley and slammed him up against the wall.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" the shifter said, holding his bleeding nose.

Kahil pinned him with his forearm across his chest. The curved blade of his jambiya dagger went to the man's groin.

Kahil growled. "You have been pissing in places that don't belong to you, pup."

The shifter's eyes glowed, but he wasn't bold enough to change into a wolf with a knife at his dick. "I was told to do it by my king," he replied.

"He wants you dead that badly? I'm happy to oblige him."

Kahil stilled as three other shifters entered the alley. Istanbul was full of stray dogs, so at night the wolves wouldn't be looked at twice.

"You better let me go, war dog, or it will be your blood staining the streets tonight."

Kahil grinned. "You know, I'm in just the mood to like these odds."

The wolves leaped, and Kahil moved. He tossed the bleeding shifter at them, slicing open his gut as he did so. The world narrowed down into a whirl of snarls and blood and flying fur. Kahil wasn't wielding silver against them, apart from his rings, so he wouldn't kill them, but he would fuck them up for their impertinence.

"Enough," a deep voice boomed from above them. A figure dropped from the rooftop to the street, and Kahil reached for his silver dagger. The wolves were all on the ground, twitching and bleeding as they healed their wounds.

"Septimus! So nice for the Lycaon to join us," Kahil said, smiling through his busted lips. "Maybe you can explain why your pups are pissing everywhere when your territory has always been Kadiköy. You're on the wrong side of the water."

Septimus had held the title of Lycaon for over a hundred years, not because he was the biggest of the wolves, but because he was the smartest.

"Kahil, I was unaware of your Order's involvement in this matter," he said diplomatically.

"Well, we are. Zoe Kartal has hired me as her bodyguard until the matter of the Sais Codex is resolved. Don't tell me you are interested in it as well?" Kahil asked.

The wolf king smiled, a slash of white in his thick beard. "What use would I have for necromancy?"

"Then why are your puppies turning my neighborhood into a sewer?"

Septimus crossed his arms. "I received news that Oman's daughter had returned, and one of those blood sucking pieces of filth had already attacked her. I wanted to make sure thealukahwere deterred from doing it again."

"Out of the goodness of your heart? Don't lie to me," Kahil said, all out of patience.

"Thealukahare getting bold. There're young ones getting around the city with no respect for the rules, and they are going unchecked. The Kartals are friends to all of us. Oman's blood demands respect, not to be attacked and coerced against her will."

Kahil sighed and sheathed his dagger. "I swear to Anubis, the whole city is losing its mind at the moment. Lydia sent one of her goons after Zoe today too."

"The priestess thinks her position puts her above politeness. You dealt with it?" Septimus looked at his still healing pack members.

"Yeah, pretty much the same way. Zoe barely has a foot in our world, and they are after her."

Septimus let out a growl that could have meant anything. "Then it is good she has you watching over her. Truly, I hadn't heard she had gone to the Order for help.Özür dilerim."

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