She pushes back her chair and rises to her feet. “I shouldn’t be doing this, but”—she puts her hand over her Space Pirates badge—“I promised I’d do everything in my power to help. So, if you want, I’ll glamour you both as Gumiho so you can get into the temple. The effect will only last an hour or so, though, so you’ll have to be quick. And once you’re there, I won’t be able to help you access the library. For that part, you’re on your own.”

I’m rendered speechless. I’d always kept my distance from Cosette because of her closeness with Jennie. But maybe I’d misjudged her. If she’s willing to go this far for Emmett—and all the while knowing I’m Horangi—then she’s definitely a good egg.

“Thanks, Captain CasetteTape99,” Emmett says, rising to his feet, too. “Space Pirates forever.”

“Space Pirates forever.” Cosette rubs her Gi against her skin. “Are you guys ready? This might feel kinda weird at first, but I promise it won’t hurt.” She closes her eyes and starts chanting.

Suddenly, my body feels strange. “Are there ants crawling on me?” I whine, scratching at every inch of my skin.

Emmett is squirming and scratching himself, too. Then he starts to change in front of my eyes. His body stretches like one of his homemade pizza doughs, being pulled from top to toe. His hair grows out and flows down his back in luscious dark curls, his legs lengthen, and his face starts to look like another I’ve seen before. Like, just before.

“Whoa, Em, you are the spitting image of Adeline!” I exclaim.

He looks down his body and then yelps. “Holy shirtballs, I have boobs!”

I stare at him in awe. Even his voice sounds just like Adeline’s.

He fumbles with his hands, not knowing where to put them. He reaches over his shoulder and feels for his backpack, which is still on his—well, Adeline’s—back. “Oh phew! My cookies are safe.”

He then turns to me and gasps. “Whoa, and you look just like Cosette!” His eyes shift between me and real Cosette, and he shakes his head. “So trippy. I’m seeing double.”

Cosette laughs. “Sorry. Hope you guys don’t mind looking like my sister and me. It’s much easier to glamour you into people I know well.”

Emmett and I shrug. “I’m not complaining,” Emmett says.

“Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t, okay?” She points to me. “Especially you.”

“Hey—” I start, but then we hear the chatter of other young astronomers coming from down the hall.

“C’mon,” says Cosette. “Time for you to get a move on.” She quickly sneaks us out the way we entered.