“What?” Liora blinked.
“The one on your brow,” Seraphelle gestured politely toward her face. “And your nose.”
Liora stared at her. For a second, she thought she must have misheard. Then she straightened slightly. “No.”
Seraphelle looked mildly surprised. “They will distract from the traditional aesthetic,” the elder explained.
“Still no.”
The basilisk elder’s eyes narrowed just a fraction.
“Oh!” Thaleia’s voice chimed in as she appeared from somewhere behind the camera equipment. The lamia smiled brightly. “We can take them out in editing.”
Seraphelle considered this for a moment. Then she nodded once. “Fine.”
“Alright!” The cyclops clapped his hands. “Ready!”
A burst of camera clicks filled the studio. Lights shifted.
“Closer,” the cyclops called.
Maldenis placed a hand lightly at Liora’s waist.
Click. Click. Click.
“Look at each other.”
She turned her head reluctantly.
Click.
Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed the news crew. Calyra and her team had repositioned themselves nearby, a camera rolling steadily as they filmed the entire process.
“Oh, for the love of—” she grumbled under her breath.
“Careful,” he leaned slightly closer.
She shot him a glare. “I swear this whole thing is insane.”
“Yes,” he said thoughtfully. “But you’re handling it very gracefully.”
She snorted.
“That was sarcasm.”
“I know.”
The cyclops adjusted a light. “Good, good, hold that.”
Liora sighed dramatically.
Maldenis lowered his voice again. “You do realize this footage will exist forever.”
“Are you threatening me?” Her eyes widened slightly.
“No.”
A pause. “Encouraging your best behavior.”
