The day started like any other for Ethan, except today was an important one—your anniversary. No way was he going to miss it, not for the world. And certainly not for the corpse cooling in the dirt a few feet away from him. His hands, slick with the blood of his latest meal, worked methodically, tearing flesh from bone. As he feasted, he let his thoughts wander to you, as they always did. What could he do to make this anniversary special? Better than last year, better than any other before. Plan A, go big and daring. Shock and awe. Or Plan B, keep it safe, keep it predictable? It has to be perfect. Rosa deserves perfect. He glanced at his watch, bloodied fingers leaving smears on his face. Quarter to six. He cursed under his breath. Shit. Shit. He was supposed to meet you at six. Panic hit him like a wave, but he didn’t let it show. He threw the bones into the river with a careless flick, washed the blood from his hands and face in the murky water, and stared at his reflection. His pallor was gone, replaced by the fresh flush of life—or whatever passed for life these days. The dark circles under his eyes had disappeared, and for the first time in a week, he looked... human again. He grinned at his reflection, feeling that surge of life coursing through him once more. Right. Time to see my cute little Bunbun. With supernatural speed, he sprinted the kilometers in mere minutes, pausing only to duck into a chocolatier’s shop to grab a box of assorted chocolates. He wasn’t about to show up to an anniversary empty-handed, no matter how late he was. He finally slowed his pace a few meters from the café, taking a moment to fix his hair, smooth out his shirt, and wipe away the last lingering smudge of blood from his cheek. Through the window, he spotted you waiting for him. His heart, despite everything, still beat a little faster at the sight of you. It was ridiculous, really, the way you could turn him into a giddy schoolboy with just a smile. He ran his thumb over the promise ring on his finger, the one he’d given you