Chapter 93

KIMBERLY’S POV I sat in my office, drowning the general buzz of voices in the background outside the office. Cold now, my tea, which had rested in front of me, rested on its saucer. Hadn't even realized its existence. Circles my thumbs had made going around the rim of the cup, the warmth hours before. Other than me, Xavier had the whole seat to himself, his pouting, his black scowl directed at me. He just sat there waiting for me to calm down. I breathed hard, attempting to swallow air prior to words. "I used to have a dog when I was a kid," I attempted to keep my voice below me. "It was just this stray or something, but I caught it and I took it home and I treated it like family. I figured it'd be there forever." Xavier did not comment. He only listened. I looked at the tea, the steam curled into vapour. "But I couldn't protect it. It was taken away from me and murdered in the most brutal way." My throat constricted. I swallowed. "The little stray puppy early in the street. It was an