My Life as a Beast Keeper

---- Chapter 7 When the video finished playing, Mom looked the most upset. "Is this how I raised you, Lisa? To get back at your sister, you'd go as far as to seduce a beastkin?" Salem stared at me, his face ashen. "Layla, I was just drunk that night. I thought it was you who came in-" "Did I say you could speak?" Dad was furious, too. "Did I pay for you to come into my house and bed my daughter? I'm calling the retailer today to ask how on earth they trained you!" Lisa's tears streamed down her face. "Mom, why aren't you reprimanding her?

Don't you think she's really scheming, recording that to show you? I admit I was foolish, but since Layla came home, you've loved me less! "Are you going to let her lead you by the nose? Will you stand by and watch her push me out of the house?" Mom shook her head and sighed. "Lisa, you brought this upon yourself. If you hadn't done anything, Layla wouldn't have had the chance to record it. You're both to hand over this month's allowance to Layla. I want you to confine yourselves to the top floor for three days and reflect." A large sum of money was transferred into my account.

---- The scales in my parents' hearts also seemed to tip a little more in my favor. From childhood to adulthood, I'd always fought tooth and nail for what I wanted. Today was no different. Anyone who claimed that their parents' love was unconditional was lying. Not having to see Lisa and Salem for three days put me in a great mood, so I went on a wild shopping spree with Clayton, marveling at how great he was. He was slender in all the right places, like his waist, broad where it should be. He was also delicate where it mattered, like in his face.

He was a natural mannequin who looked good in everything. It made me want to buy him everything, too. Yet, he looked the most stunning in a suit. I went overboard and bought him over a dozen couture suits, leaving me exhausted. Clayton carried the bags in one hand and me in the other as we made our way back to my room. Thooked my arm around his shoulder, tracing the line of his high nose bridge. "Clayton, did they ever try to force you into the flesh trade, given your looks?" "They did." ---- He placed me on the bed and got down on one knee.

Then, he removed my heels and slipped comfortable slippers onto my feet. How clever of him. He'd seen Salem do this for Lisa. Even though he hadn't yet grown accustomed to the careful, restrained movements humans needed-even having to adjust his strength every step of the way-he'd taken the trouble to remember. "Is that so?" I asked, watching his movements. "But you seem so fresh. I thought you had no experience." Clayton stiffened, his cheeks flushing crimson as he explained, "I am actually inexperienced." "oh?" He hesitated briefly. "I injured a customer and ran off.

They caught me, but I revolted by refusing to eat and drink. Finally, they feared I'd die, and they'd lose money, so they threw me into the arena. I'd not eaten for three days, then. I was starving. "T'm not sure how I managed, but I ripped out that beastkin's neck. After that, I stayed in the arena. They feared I might fight back if I got strong, so they always gave me very little food. ---- "T was badly injured in my last match. They reckoned I'd die for real and tossed me out to be a venting beastkin. But I survived.

This week, they were discussing whether to send me back to the arena, but you bought me." Clayton, in his newly purchased suit, kneeled on one knee. His grip on my hand was gentle and light, and his tail twitched restlessly behind him. He likely didn't realize his pose was akin to a proposal. He seemed so earnest and dignified.