DISAPPEARING INTO THE UNKNOWN

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• PRETEND PRINCESS   "EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING"

  Yuki's POVIt's been one year.A full one. Three hundred and sixty-five days from the spiral, from the chaos, from the miracle. I was sitting on the edge of our ridiculously large bed in Creed's penthouse apartment—which he now referred to as our place—softly brushing through the tips of my hair. My icy silver hair had become long down my back, unkempt and untamed, like the rest of my life these days. I wished I was the kind of soft boy anime character who was too emotionally unavailable to be a real person, except—well, I was pretty much the opposite of that.I was content. Truly, foolishly, glow-in-the-dark content.Creed and I had survived it all that could ever be thrown our way—old pain, secrets, family, tragedy, distance, fear. And now we were just. us. He was the calm to my storm, the order to my chaos, the man who looked at me like he couldn't breathe without me—and I felt the same.We went to Hawaii this year for our company retreat and yes that creed packed all of the Hawaii

• PRETEND PRINCESS   HARMONY

  Lily's POVDan was coming today.I was so excited I could yell.He was five minutes away.I caught a glimpse of the clock for the fifth time in under two minutes, my heart pounding as I staggered round the apartment like a waddling hurricane. My big belly wasn't doing me any favors, but I was set on getting the apartment clean before he got there. Not because he was going to force me to. Dan was not that type of fellow. But because I wanted to. It was my way of telling him, "Thank you for being supportive."The couch cushions? Done.The water bottles sitting on the coffee table? Discarded.Harmony's tiny socks scattered across the floor? Collected and stuffed into the drawer.I was unable to stoop, so for the bigger items, I kicked them out of the way with my foot like a large, obstinate penguin. My slippers screeching over the hardwood reverberated behind me as I blindly shuffling from one mess to the next.My eyes landed on the purple comb I had been using to scratch the back of my

• PRETEND PRINCESS   OUTSHINE THE PAST

  Yuki's POVToday was the day.The first day of work back. Officially. At Creed Technologies.And I was determined to make an entrance that would never be forgotten.I scowled at myself in the mirror, turned left, leaned right, and winked at myself.Red pantsuit? Check.Tailored-to-perfection blazer with rose-gold buttons and plunge neck? Absolutely.Heeled boots? Five inches high — I came to conquer.Hair? Done like heaven kissed by frost and falling to my shoulders with a single glittering pin above my left ear.Makeup? Glossy, shining, and just the right type of "I might cry glitter."I was the initial taste of forbidden fruit.And I felt like it as well.I swaggered across the glass doors of Creed Technologies like I was in a slow-motion movie. A few bystanders did double takes. One guy even hesitated in mid-step and spilled coffee all over his chest."Is that…?""Yuki?""Yuki Roman returns?!?""Oh my God, he looks… expensive."I let out a brief wave, spun once, and announced, "Hel

• PRETEND PRINCESS   I WANT TO HURT HIM

  Yuki's pov My whole body stiffened. "What?""He broke in," Yuki responded, voice trembling now, as if saying it aloud made it truer. "He—he was in my room, Creed. In full cosplay like it was some goddamn reunion party. With—oh my god, with actual rhinestones on his—" "Tell me you called the police," I barked.No, Yuki answered. "No, I just— I screamed at him. I kicked him out. He tried. he kept telling me that I'd forgive him. That it was a one-time slip. That we could have one last night, as if that would be some magic on what he destroyed.""Jesus Christ." I stood up. My blood was boiling. "He broke into your house?!""Yes.""And tried to charm you?""Yes.".I paced. I couldn't sit. My hands shook. "Why didn't you call me as soon as it happened?""Because I didn't want you to lose your mind.""I'm losing my mind!" I lashed out. "Do you have any idea what could have happened? What if he hadn't kept quiet? What if— What if Suzu wasn't there? What if he hadn't listened?"Yuki sat up

• PRETEND PRINCESS   YOUR CHOICE

  Yuki's POVThe key went into Grandpa Roman's house now my own. I hadn't braced myself for the door to open so easily. It creaked open as though expecting me. Suzu whimpered beneath my shoulder, questioning. I halted."Hey, that's. weird," I stated. I was positive I had locked it when I departed.I stepped inside cautiously, the old wood creaking beneath my boots. All was silent, untouched. I hadn't set foot here since Creed and I visited Grandpa Roman's room. My heart gave a tiny ache, but I pushed it aside. Suzu paced ahead of me, sniffing.The first sound I heard was the gentle hum of music above. Not just any music.Anime opening music.I froze in place.No. No way.I dashed up the stairs, Suzu now growling, ears perked up. When I crept around into my bedroom, my jaw nearly fell off."WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL?"There he was. ERIK. Standing in my room, in full cosplay—a ridiculous glittering cape, plastic elf ears, and his chest bare. Correction. Not only his chest. The rest of him too,

• PRETEND PRINCESS   THE GUILT

  Creed's POVIt wasn't that I didn't want to tell him. It was just that. I couldn't. Not yet.Yuki was beside me, his breaths soft, even, and calm. His icy blue hair spilled around his face like a curtain, strands falling onto the pillow, clinging to his cheeks in the most perfect mess. He looked like a painting. A dream.And he was mine.I gazed at him, tracing the curve of his jaw with my fingers. The guilt nibbled at me silently. He didn't know it all. Not about my family, not about what had occurred, or where the others were. Because I hadn't told him. Not because I didn't trust him, God no—Yuki was the safest thing I'd ever known—but because I was afraid.Afraid that when he knew everything, he'd look at me differently. Like I was damaged. And I couldn't handle the thought of that.He stirred some, saying something incoherent and burrowing into my side. I softly kissed his temple."Sleep, Yuki," I whispered. "Just a little longer.When the sun started glinting between the slats