Seven is the Devon Rex that Desmond and I have shared for eight years.

When she was a kitten, she was my little shadow, sticking to my heels and constantly getting into trouble. I used to tease her, saying she had the soul of a puppy, so I named her Seven.

Now that she’s older, she’s become reserved, almost dignified.

The Knight parents loved her too; they would often take her back to their place for a few days at a time. But this time, when I called, my heart sank.

"Seven?" Mom asked, her voice puzzled. "She never came by."

Panic tightened my throat. "But Desmond said that you—"

My hands wouldn't stop shaking. I dialed Desmond. "Where is Seven?"

His voice was maddeningly casual. "Vienna wanted to keep her for a couple of days. She’s at her place."

I stormed into his office without waiting.

Desmond just chuckled, as if I were a child throwing a tantrum. "Is it really that big of a deal? Fine, fine. I’ll take you to go get her."

Vienna cracked the door to her apartment open, stifling a yawn. "Oh, hey. I just woke up. I haven't even had a chance to go look for her yet." She shrugged, leaning against the doorframe. "She went missing last night. She probably just slipped out to roam around."

My brain went numb. Static filled my skull.

We checked the security footage. We knocked on every door in the luxury complex. We scoured the grounds. Every second that passed felt like a piece of my chest was being hacked away.

We finally found her, huddled behind the dumpsters behind the estate, a trembling, terrified ball of fur.

Vienna rubbed her arm, looking bored out of her mind. "I told you she wasn't going anywhere. It’s just a cat, Serenity. You had me running around all day for nothing."

I pulled Seven into my chest, shielding her from the cold air, and looked at Desmond. "Is that what you think, too?"

Desmond frowned, a crease forming between his brows. "She’s found now. Let it go. Vienna didn't do it on purpose."

The air felt like lead in my lungs. I couldn't get a full breath.

Seven was shivering against me.

I was shivering, too.

Standing there, watching him, Desmond felt like he was a million miles away.