CHAPTER 154

When Mike sighed, Lily scooted close to him and wrapped her arms around his chest. Her hands hovered just over his pecs, and she squeezed him through his shirt.

"Penny for your thoughts, Romeo."

"Just feel stretched thin is all. Once Cecilia is back, I'm hoping things settle down for a bit before the next crisis hits. Wouldn't mind a small vacation or something."

Her grip loosened. "What, you mean away from the house?"

He chuckled. "Well, we both know I can't really leave the house. Not in a traditional sense, anyway. Don't feel like being hunted down by whoever is mad at me that week."

"I could give you more time in the Dreamscape," she purred, then pulled herself against him. He could feel her breasts squished against his shoulder blades. "You just have to ask."

He smiled and put his hands over hers. "That sounds wonderful, but I mean out here, in the real world. Maybe somewhere that isn't a beach, someplace I could go with some of the others. Tink has been working herself to death, and I bet Beth wouldn't mind seeing somewhere new." He had hardly seen the lawyer in the last week. Between the time she spent with Sulyvahn or Asterion and the time she put into looking for the geas contract, she was almost non-existent as well.

Then again, based on the things he had seen and heard, it was likely she wasn't interested in any of his attention anyway.

"And what about me?" Lily asked. "Do I feature in this vacation of yours?"

He squeezed her hands. "If I didn't bring you, how would we have any fun?"

A small sigh escaped Lily's lips and she laid her head down against the back of his neck, staying nuzzled up to him for the remainder of the ride.

Once they were back home, he waved Cerberus off and returned to the house with Lily right behind him. She was back in her formal gown, and they happened to pass the fountain just as Dana and Quetzalli emerged from the garage.

Dana was wearing a button-down shirt with dress slacks, and her hair was no longer in a ponytail. She had obviously run a curler through her gray and blonde hair and put on a little bit of makeup, which made her look a bit older. Quetzalli looked stunning in a shimmering gown with sequins embroidered across the front in the pattern of the constellations.

"Whoo, hot stuff," Lily declared, then slapped Dana on the ass. "You wearing a thong under there?"

Dana ignored Lily and turned her attention to Quetzalli. "The centaurs made this dress especially for her," she told Mike. "They wove something that wouldn't accumulate a charge."

"Wonderful. You look very pretty, Quetzalli." He held his elbow out to her. "Shall we?"

"Yes," she said, then put her arm through his, sending a good shock into his arm. He flinched, then scowled at Dana.

"By no charge, I meant static cling," she told him. "She's still gonna zap you."

"Okay, fair eno—ow!" He howled in pain when Lily touched her finger to his butt and he received another shock.

"That's what you get for holding hands with another girl," she pouted, then threw an arm around Dana's waist. "If I told you that you had the body of a dead girl, would you hold it against me?"

Dana rolled her eyes. "Somebody kill me again," she moaned, and followed behind Mike as they walked through the house and out into the front yard. Beth and Sulyvahn were already out there, and Beth was dressed to kill. She was wearing a low cut blue gown with a white skirt that flared when she turned to watch them all come down the stairs.

"Is this everybody?" Beth asked. When she stepped aside, Mike saw that Reggie was standing behind her with a small contingent of rats. The rat king wore a little bow tie around his neck that complemented his fake glasses very well.

"Almost. Where's Tink?" No sooner had he asked did the front door open with a slam, startling some nearby rats. Out strolled Tink in a yellow gown that came down to her knees. She put her hands on her waist and grinned, showing all of her teeth.

"Tink ready for dancing," she declared, then looked over her shoulder and frowned. "Husband wait," she added, then disappeared back into the house.

"What did she forget?" asked Beth.

Mike had no idea, but was surprised when Tink emerged towing a very reluctant Kisa by the wrist. Kisa wore a gorgeous emerald green gown that shimmered in the waning light of day, and he heard Beth gasp in surprise. Kisa's ears were folded forward in either anger or embarrassment; it was hard to tell.

"Tink bring grumpy cat girl," the goblin declared, then pulled Kisa forward until they both walked down the steps. "Big night out, eat too much, and shake booty!"

"You look wonderful, Tink." Mike moved close to the goblin and lifted her goggles slightly to remove the pencil that was tucked behind her ear. "I'm glad you're ready to take a break and have some fun."

"Tink make big fun, you see." She grinned at Kisa, who turned her head away.

"You look very nice as well, Kisa. I'm glad you're coming tonight." He didn't expect much of an answer, and when she shrugged at him, he turned to the others. "Okay, let's see our girl become the new chief, shall we?"

Tink let out a raucous cheer and dragged Kisa toward the portal to the Moon Tribe's home. The others followed while Mike paused just long enough to go wind the sundial. Even though it was supposed to be a fun outing, he half expected trouble to find him somehow. He stopped to look at the Jabberwock, which was slumbering on the edge of the hedge maze. Someone had decorated its horns with flowers, and he chuckled. As a result of his delay, he was the last to go through the portal.

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