(Michelle Lui's POV)
By the time 6:00 p.m. rolled in, our suite had transformed from a luxurious apartment to a chaotic mix between a beauty salon and a backstage dressing room. Makeup brushes were everywhere. Hair tools sizzled. Four cups of matcha were untouched, abandoned mid-styling.
Even though we'd all shopped together and already knew each other's costumes, seeing everything fully styled — hair, makeup, capes, jewelry — was like meeting upgraded, enchanted versions of ourselves.
Lara was the strict director.
"No blinking," she ordered as she applied shimmer to my cheekbones.
"Lara, I need to breathe."
"Breathing is optional," she declared. Then she angled my chin. "Perfect. You're a celestial enchantress, Michelle. You need to look like you can seduce the moon."
Kate, applying her own eyeliner nearby, didn't even look up.
"She's not wrong."
I stared at my reflection.
