Chapter 2

Gabriel made his choice again. No matter what I said, it won't make a damn difference, would it?

The judge slammed the gavel down again. "Holly is found guilty of discrimination. Katlyn, you may proceed with the punishment."

Before I could react, two guards with bull and horse heads dragged me onto the torture chair and strapped my arms and legs down.

"Let me go! What are you doing?" I screamed.

I struggled desperately, the cold metal shackles scraping my skin until blood ran down my wrists and ankles.

Helpless tears finally fell as I choked out, "Please, someone help me. Gabriel, please, help me."

Gabriel looked up, his brows furrowing as soon as he saw the blood.

He was about to speak, but Katlyn tugged at his sleeve, cutting him off. "Gabriel, didn't you say you'd do whatever I wanted?

"Since Holly's come to this world, she has to follow its rules.

"I promise, it's just a tiny punishment. I won't hurt a single hair on her head."

Gabriel walked over, crouched down, and smoothed my messy hair. His touch was gentle, but his voice was icy. "Holly, you've been so rude. It's time you learned a lesson."

I stared into his bright eyes, wanting to find some trace of a joke there, anything to prove he wasn't serious.

But all I saw reflected in his indifferent eyes was my own face, so pale I looked like I'd died already.

Katlyn smirked as she grabbed the tray sitting nearby and lifted the lid with a flourish.

On it was a plate crawling with live, wriggling bugs.

Fighting the urge to gag, I turned my head away, only for a hand with razor-sharp nails to seize my chin and force my face right up to the plate of bugs.

"Let me show you what it really means to respect other species' eating habits, Holly," Katlyn taunted.

The bull and horse-headed guards pinned me down, one grabbing my chin, the other pinching my nose shut.

My face was flushed red. All I could do was keep my mouth shut tight.

Right up to the moment I was about to suffocate, I kept waiting for Gabriel to say something and call it off.

For the past ten years, every time we had a conflict, Gabriel was always the one to give in.

I had a serious congenital genetic disorder. I couldn't afford to go hungry, get angry, or feel too sad.

The first time Gabriel saw me writhing in pain on the floor during an attack, he was scared out of his wits.

Even if I was only sulking and said I had no appetite, no matter how fierce our argument had been, Gabriel would stop right away and gently urge me to eat a few more bites.

But this time, the moment I couldn't hold it anymore and gasped for air, dozens of wriggling bugs were shoved straight into my mouth.

It was like a swarm of tiny jaws tearing at my throat.

Only when all the bugs from the plate was gone was I released.

The moment I collapsed, I frantically jammed my fingers down my throat, desperate to purge the bugs from my system.

My fingertips came away bloody, and stomach acid burned my throat as I choked and gagged uncontrollably, vomiting repeatedly.

I squeezed my eyes shut, tears and snot streaming down my face, my whole body trembling. I couldn't bear to look at that disgusting pile of filth.

Katlyn pinched her nose and grumbled, "Ugh, it reeks. Gabriel always says Holly's particular about cleanliness, not like us half beastfolk. But honestly, she's no different from us at all.

"Gabriel, does this even count as punishment? She threw it all up. Maybe I should keep feeding her until she stops puking."

Gabriel's face darkened at her words, and Katlyn wisely fell silent.

I was slumped on the floor, still retching weakly, when Gabriel suddenly offered me a handkerchief.

He held it out to my lips, but I instinctively pulled away.

Gabriel snorted, loosened his grip, and dropped the handkerchief straight into the filth.

"Not a fan of the bugs, huh? Feeling sorry for yourself?" Gabriel mocked. "I've put up with human food for ten years because of you. Can you quit acting so dramatic?"

Me? Dramatic?

After I paid for Gabriel's freedom, I was flat broke and ended up homeless with him.

I pulled extra night shifts just to afford his medicine for those injuries, and more than once, shady half beastfolk followed me home.

Nightmares kept jolting me awake, and I lost my appetite for days.

I'd always been spoiled. Never in my life had I suffered like that.

Gabriel shot me a glare, his eyes red with anger. "Human, if you regret it, sell me. Now that I'm back on my feet, I'm worth more than when you first picked me up."

I ruffled his hair and grumbled, "If you're perfectly capable of moving around, then go get a job and make some money. You owe me a ton, and don't forget, I'm charging interest."

After that, Gabriel and I relied on each other for years, becoming each other's lifeline. He showered me with more love and money than I could ever imagine.

Whenever I told him how grateful I was to have him, he'd take my hand, looking at me with all the sincerity in the world, and say, "Holly, you've always been good enough. You deserve everything I have to offer."

Maybe we'd been together for too long, but our feelings were never that deep.

Somewhere along the way, the Holly he used to praise as "good" had become "dramatic" in his eyes.

A wave of bitterness welled up in my throat, and I couldn't even muster a comeback. I staggered to my feet, barely able to stand.

I lowered my head, making sure Gabriel couldn't see my swollen, red eyes.

"Can I go now?" I mumbled.