Chapter 35: Zephyr

I can’t believe that Oliver hurt this sweet little girl. I hate him even more than I did before. He doesn’t care about anyone other than himself. He truly is the monster that he claims that we are.

“Ishir is the tiger’s name. He is my mate, my rider. Would you be okay if he came out to sit with us?” I ask Nova.

“Will he hurt me, Zephyr?” she asks, her big green eyes looking up at me.

“No, little one. He won’t. He finds missing children, like you. He helps them to find their families or for those without families, he helps them find a safe place where they can live,” I tell her as Ishir makes his way toward us.

Nova snuggles into me. “You smell good,” she says.

“What do I smell like to you, little one?” I ask her.

“Snow. I like the snow,” she says.

“I think she smells like freshly fallen snow,” Ishir says, cautiously coming out of the bushes.

“Yes!” she says, but she’s watching Ishir cautiously.

I lean in and sniff her hair. Beneath the dirt and grime, I can smell the fire on h