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“I could always make you,” she threatens with a sweet smile, head tilted and eyelashes fluttering.

“Don’t you dare,” I mutter, grabbing the pile of clothes and heading into Ever’s bathroom. There’s no way I’m undressing in front of them. I don’t want their pitying looks or questions if they spot my scars. I quickly tug on a skirt and top before opening the door and doing a dramatic twirl of an entrance.

“Look! A whole new woman,” Bree teases.

“Holy shit, guys!” I widen my eyes and hold up my hands, wiggling my fingers.

“Stop. Is it your power?” Ever asks.

“I-I-oh my Goddess!” I hold my hands out and start convulsing and doing my best impression of someone suddenly possessed by magic. “I can feel it inside me! It’s hard—long—and, and⁠—”

“Okay, now I know she’s joking,” Eli says with a scoff.

“Asshole!” Ever growls, and then a pillow slaps into the side of my face.

I drop my hands and grab the pillow and launch it back at her. “Sucker.”

“You’re lucky you look cute in that outfit, or I’d let my wolf eat you,” Ever mutters.

Bree and Eli giggle.

Rolling my eyes, I return to the bathroom, quickly putting on the next outfit. Most of my choices fit great and get the approval from my friends, and when it comes time to try on the silky black A-line maxi dress with the deep V-neck, the material glides over my skin and a slit up one side shows off a whole lot of leg. Despite revealing a lot of skin on the front side, the back is mostly covered, and my hair will blanket the tips of any scars that peek out.

Looking at myself in the mirror, I smooth the material down, amazed at how perfectly the outfit molds to my form. It looks amazing with my purple hair, too. Maybe I should write Brittany a thank you letter. A smirk twitches at the edges of my lips.

The expression is so foreign, I almost don’t recognize myself. I don’t purposefully go out of my way not to smile. As long as I can remember, I never had a reason to, and I refused to do it just to make the world happy. Now, though, I’m finding little moments of joy that deserve a grin.

A hand slaps against the door. “Get out here, you sexy bitch! Show us those titties!” Ever calls.

I tug the door open and cover my breasts with my hands. “Have you no shame? A lady does not share her body with just anyone, highness.” Then I tug the material aside and flash her.

Ever gasp. “You little harlot! Off with her head!” She even jabs her finger into the air for extra flair.

We both collapse into laughter but not before she hauls me out of the bathroom so Eli and Bree can see the dress.

“Hooooly shit. You’re going to break some hearts tonight,” Bree tells me with a wicked grin.

“Or maybe some balls,” Ever adds. “Okay, okay. Raina, is this what you’re wearing?”

“I mean . . . yeah? Why? Is it too fancy?”

“No, babe. It’s perfect.” Eli nods. “You look hot.”

My cheeks pinken. “Thanks, Eli.” I glance at the clock on Ever’s desk. “Shit. What about you guys? The party is only an hour and a half away.”

“There’s plenty of time.” Bree grabs two hangers from Ever’s closet, one with Eli’s outfit and the other with her own. “I stashed our stuff here.”

“And I brought this,” Eli adds, holding up a bottle of mage liquor and four shot glasses.

Ever’s room is bigger, but not four-people-getting-ready-for-a-party big. But, with the mage liquor and a good sense of humor, we all manage to get ready without killing each other, though for a moment there, it was dicey with Bree and Ever arguing over the makeup brushes. The bottle is nearly gone when we finish up.

“Okay.” Bree turns to us and swishes her dark green bubble dress that looks amazing with her red hair, which has a few small braids and is pulled back in a Viking-style hairdo. “I think I’m done.”

Eli’s wearing a pair of light pants and a dark silk top with the top buttons undone. His hair looks amazing, as always, perfectly cut and styled. He looks like a billionaire ready to go out on his private yacht.

“Ready to knock ’em dead, guys?” Ever asks. Her light blue halter dress hits above the knees, and she’s secured her hair in a voluminous updo, leaving a few choice curls loose to frame her face.

I’m equal parts excited and anxious. Generally, I don’t like to be around large crowds, but with friends like this and mage liquor warming my belly, I kind of feel like I can conquer the world. Or maybe, perhaps, I finally feel like more than the girl with so much emotional damage it would make a therapist cry.