Maya stared unblinkingly at the array of makeup tools on Emma’s dressing table, her gaze lingering as she mused quietly. Brushes lay fanned out with deliberate care, palettes aligned, lipsticks capped and uncapped as if recently admired.

  She couldn’t remember the last time she had seen such an arrangement—or the last time she had dolled up her face at all. Well, it seemed her new friend was a core fan of the makeup industry.

  She would have called Emma a fanatic for this, but for the fact that in the past two days they’d been together both in school and at work, she hadn’t seen a touch of makeup on the latter’s face—except for the faint shade of pink lip gloss that always rested softly on her lips.

  “Maya!!” Emma called as she trotted into the room, instantly pulling Maya from her thoughts.

  “What are you doing? You haven’t dressed up yet?” she asked in bewilderment, eyes sweeping over the blonde standing stiffly in front of her dressing table.

  “Well…” Maya stuttered, suddenly feeling self-conscious, heat creeping up her neck. She was embarrassed—not only because she hadn’t chosen what to wear yet, but worse, because she didn’t even know how to doll up.

  The only thing she knew how to do was fight.

  Maya had been startled earlier that day when Emma had casually suggested, while Derek dropped her off at home, that she should stop by in the evening so they could go to the party together.

  Emma had even added, lightly, that Maya could bring her clothes and makeup kit along, since they’d be spending time together before the party.

  She had agreed easily then, happy—almost relieved—to finally have a close friend after Zoe’s betrayal. But now, standing here, she wondered if she’d made the right choice.

  Firstly, she had gotten so confused while picking out a dress that evening that she’d had to involve her Aunt Melvina, much to her cousin’s amusement.

  Melvina had helped her select two gowns—a red one and a blue one—while mentioning offhandedly that the human would help her choose the right one.

  Maya had nodded and packed them away, only to realize later that she’d forgotten to ask her aunt for a makeup kit. She hadn’t brought one to the pack. She didn’t even own one.

  “Down to earth… Maya,” Emma said gently, waving her hand across her friend’s face.

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  “Oh… sorry.” Maya blinked as she surfaced from her reverie.

  “You look spaced out. What’s the matter?” Emma asked, pulling underwear from the cupboard as if this were the most normal conversation in the world.

  “Oh, nothing. I just don’t know how to doll up,” Maya replied, forcing a nervous smile that immediately sent Emma into a burst of laughter.

  “You should see your face,” Emma said between laughs, while Maya stared at her, confused and slightly taken aback by the intensity of it. “Don’t worry. I’ll doll you up.”

  “But what about your dress?” Emma continued, finally noticing that Maya was standing there in nothing but her underwear.

  “It’s in the bag. I have two actually. You have to help me choose.”

  “Okay then. Let’s get to it. Derek will soon be here—he’s picking us up.” Emma dragged Maya’s bag down from her bed. She unzipped it and pulled out the two dresses.

  “Waoh… Maya.”

  “What…?” Maya chuckled at the look frozen on Emma’s face.

  “For someone with zero idea on fashion, your dresses totally rock.”

  “Really…?”

  “Yeah. I think the red one will fit you better though,” Emma said, holding it up. “Check it out,” she added, stretching the gown toward her.

  “Okay.” Taking a deep breath, Maya slid into the lush red gown. It stopped just above her knee, hugging every one of her assets tightly, unapologetically.

  “Waow!” Emma screamed for the second time that night, and Maya swiveled around instinctively.

  Maya didn’t realize when a smile spread across her own lips. Emma always made her feel good—lighter. It was a feeling she hadn’t experienced since Zoe betrayed her.

  “You like what you see?” she taunted, laughing now, the sound freer.

  “Oh yes,” Emma said, whistling again. “Girl, you look so good. Guys would be tripping.”

  “Perhaps…” Maya replied softly, her thoughts drifting to her mate—the one who didn’t recognize her. She wondered where he was now. Maybe with Zoe. The thought dulled her mood instantly.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?”

  Maya sighed. The human was sometimes far too intuitive.

  “Nothing really. I just missed home,” she said, biting her lip at her own lie.

  She missed a mate who didn’t recognize her. She missed her mother. Her brother didn’t count—though they got along at times, she knew he was likely relieved by her absence.

  Sometimes she feared he might turn out like their father. Their father… she wished she could kill the man herself.

  “Oh… me too,” Emma murmured, suddenly thinking of Amelia.

  She hadn’t spoken to her sister since cutting the call abruptly when Derek pulled into her driveway the day before. She hoped Amelia wasn’t annoyed. She promised herself she’d call over the weekend and explain everything—and apologize.

  “Yeah. Won’t you dress up?” Maya asked, eyes skimming Emma’s toned frame, still clad in underwear.

  “In a minute. Let me doll you up first,” Emma moved toward the dressing table. “Here, sit,” she said, pointing to the chair.

  Minutes passed before Emma finally handed Maya a small mirror.

  “Check your face out first.”

  Maya’s mouth formed a wide O as she stared. She stood slowly, setting the mirror down, then crossed to the long mirror by the wardrobe.

  “Emma…” she tried, but the words caught. “I look so beautiful.”

  “You’ve always been beautiful… I just highlighted some components.”

  “Thanks, Emma. You’re the best,” Maya said sincerely, still admiring her reflection.

  The last time she’d worn a gown was prom night in high school—and she hadn’t even liked it then. She preferred jeans, tops, training. Not parties.

  But now, she felt like a woman. And she wished Leo could see her like this. Maybe then, the witch’s potion would finally peel away…