Anger swirled in Jasper Sherwood's eyes.
He swore to himself that he would make Nina Donovan pay once they returned to Aldoria.
The thought had barely formed when Nina Donovan's clear, cool voice came from behind him. "Jasper Sherwood? Why are you running so fast? I almost thought you were going to ditch me and leave on the bus without me."
Jasper Sherwood's back stiffened. He turned around in disbelief.
There she was, standing behind him, looking at him with a displeased expression. And in her fair hands, she held a filthy little blue and white kitten.
The tiny kitten was very thin, a rare odd-eyed cat with one yellow eye and one blue. It clung to Nina Donovan's knit sweater, as if drawing warmth from her.
Nina Donovan looked down, gently stroking the kitten's head with her finger. "Don't be afraid. No one's going to hurt you."
