The mood was obvious, everyone was reluctant to leave Kinney village. If not for the unforeseen incident, Daniel had promised them a bonfire party to bid them farewell.

Now, neither did they get to have the bonfire party nor spend one last time with their newfound celebrity, chief Daniel.

But on the bright side, they finally got to know the identity of his mysterious girlfriend and it turned out to be one of their people: Lia, the Queenbee.

Now, they have been given the chance to hassle her and get more details on how both met; it must be so romantic.

Unlike them all, Lia was torn between two emotions- Excitement and Disappointment with a tinge of anxiety.

Lia was excited she would finally meet Asher after the past days they had spent apart.

But she was disappointed that she would not get to see Daniel as usual as it had been the routine these past days- she was going to miss him.

Yet was troubled over leaving him behind, what if Tristan tricks and attacks him in her absence without her noticing through the bond?

Those thoughts hogged her mind.

"You've become a celebrity" Ben poked her on the side of her stomach.

He was settled beside her as usual, but this time they were lucky enough to occupy the backseat which was designed for three instead of two people.

Their neighbor, of course, was no other than the vampire Dan who was feigning to be asleep as he typically does.

Lia glanced up, shuddering upon noticing the inquisitive glint in the student's eyes. Why were they staring at her that way?

"Remember me in paradise" Ben remarked, causing her to scowl at him.

"What are you talking about? Did a ghost possess you, is that you're sputtering nonsense?"

"Nope, I'm not possessed" He clarified and added, "At least, until I get to little Town"

There were hardly any ghosts in Kinney village because most of its inhabitants were creatures who live for hundreds of years.

Goosebumps climbed Lia's arms, Ben's ability was as creepy as his personality.

"What I'm trying to say is that it is apparent that you have defeated Caroline in this fight for the crown, hence now the queen bee of Little Town High school"

Ben went on after a deep breath,

"So you should expect preferential treatment from now on - not that you haven't always been treated well but…"

Since he was sandwiched between his goddess and Dan, Ben easily leaned closer and whispered into her ears.

"There might be a significantly high increase in our chocolate collection"

Ben's clean estimation made her eyes brighten yet hooded when she remembered the promise she made to a certain mate.

Lia took sneak peeks at Dan who had earbuds right inside his ears and it gladdened her because this was his signatory "Do not disturb my peace" gesture.

She then beckoned Ben to come closer with her fingers which he obeyed, though curious as to why she was speaking in whispers.

"I need your help"

"Speak on my queen, your trusted royal advisor is here to listen," He whispered back dramatically.

Lia was taken aback by his self acclaimed " Royal Advisor" but said nothing, she has learned to accept Ben as he comes- his weirdness never ends.

She began "I'm afraid that I've been deprived of my right to accept the freewill offerings by my beloved."

"Oh," Ben said, a bit surprised. They weren't even married yet her hubby had already begun to set down the rules - no one would bankrupt his chocolate business!

"Which is why I would need you" Lia grasped his hand tight, "To take on the duty of telling apart the male-given chocolates and the female- given chocolates" The hybrid successfully exploited a loophole in that rule.

Meanwhile, Dan who they thought was distracted almost blew his cover when he heard that mischievous wolf comment. Asher has finally met his match.

"They want me not to take chocolate from men but you would help me out by differentiating them according to the gender of who delivered it "

Lia sent a secret code by winking at Ben secretly which when deciphered means "Separate all unless the extra-expensive ones"

Ben winked back to show that he recognized her secret signal.

Some chocolates tasted like...well chocolate, but there were special chocolates which tasted like heaven, earning themself a secret code of communication used by the hybrid and the medium in desperate times like this.

Thankfully, Caroline and the students didn't bother her until they reached Little Town and their respective homes.

"Who is - "

Jenny's eyes dilated from excitement when she saw who was standing at the door.

"Mom, I'm back! " Lia screamed, stretching out her hand for a bear hug.

Her mom didn't fail her expectation, she nearly engulfed her daughter's slim frame if not for her height - Lia was a few inches taller than her- yet momma tightened her hold on her.

"I missed you so much!" Jenny exclaimed in the middle of dropping careless kisses on her daughter's forehead.

"I missed you too" Lia returned the gesture, resting her head on her mom's bosom and inhaling her lovely scent which spoke of safety; home sweet home.

Lia noticed her sense of smell heightened. Seems her cohabitation with Lolli was beneficial to her body. She could sense she was getting stronger.

"Do you know how uncomfortable I was with you not being within a close radius? Also, I kept having this dream where you were taken away from me" Jenny sobbed, smoothing the hybrid's hair tenderly.

Lia didn't think much about the dream, it was probably her mom's imagination. The woman must have been so worried over her safety that she slept with the thought of her in mind and so it manifested in her subconscious negatively.

"Well, my presence has proven your dream wrong and that's all that matters" She convinced her poor mother.

No one would take her away from her mother, unless her husband - future husband.

"Come in, Rex's back from school already" Jenny helped her daughter with her things.

Lia hardly stepped into the house when a little climber hopped on her, almost bringing both of them to the ground.

"You're back!"

"Yes, I'm back. Hope, you've been a good kid" she ruffled the hair of her number one loyal family member.

"Of course, I am Rex, world's most handsome and obedient kid" he bragged.

"Alright world most handsome, let your sister have some rest. She just came back from a long journey and must be famished"

Lia at once was led to the dining where a feast was prepared for her. All parents had been informed of their kid's abrupt return hence Jenny's preparedness.

The girl had eaten before she departed but still couldn't resist the smell of the special delectable home-cooked meal made by her mother.

"How was the journey?" Her mom queried amid her mouthful of food.

"It was fine," Lia managed to answer.

"So, how is the food? Does the meatloaf taste bitter? Does the smell of spaghetti make you want to puke? Do you feel dizzy? Lethargic?" Jenny peppered her with questions.

Lia was about to answer when she realized the hidden meaning beneath those questions.

She facepalmed," Mom, I'm not pregnant "

"You might never know until it's too late, it's better being proactive"

"Mom, Daniel, and I didn't have sex. Besides, even if we did, the pregnancy symptoms would not just manifest in two days!" She spat at Jenny.

Lia reined in the irritation, sometimes she just felt like tearing this overprotective mother of hers limb to limb.

There was a prominent frown on her mom's face while stroking her jaw thoughtfully," That's strange, how can a guy like that resist my beautiful daughter for two days? Is he by chance infertile or something?"

"Of course not, he's not infertile" Lia was quick to defend him, "We did do something and we shared the same room…."

Oh, Lia slapped her cheeks mentally.

She just fell into her mother's trap.

Lia turned to meet her mom's knowing look and her head tilted in a -you-were-saying questioning gesture.

"So not only did you do something with him, you shared a room with him? How's that even possible? It said in that slip that you guys would have separate- "

"Mom, Daniel's the chief, he has his ways"

"Just as I said before you went on that trip " Jenny reminded her.

She leaned closer to her daughter asking, "Care to share what you both did? "

Her mom wriggled her brows suggestively, reminding her of Ben in some ways.

"No, no, no way" Lia dropped her spoon and formed an X with both hands, " I'm not about to divulge my sexual life with my boyfriend to you"

"You don't have to be explicit, just drop some hints and who knows I'll able to give you some advice"

Her mom tempted Lia but trust her, she had enough experience with Asher and Daniel. Her mom might even be the one in need of tips.

"Thank you mom, but no"

With that said, the hybrid ran off to her room before her mom could corner and force her to spill the beans.

Lia took a quick bath and was contemplating going to bed since it was almost evening when her brother knocked on her door.

"Hi"

"Hi"

"I heard you were back and I just wanted to say drop by"

"Sure, thanks"

"Alright, see you around"

Trevor was down the stairs before she even responded. Well, that was an improvement; they were now on talking terms.

With a sigh, Lia shut her door and went to bed. She was going to sleep through the rest of the evening or so she thought because when she awoke, total darkness surrounded her.

Wait, not darkness, she was blindfolded.

Lia tried to move the material from her face but she couldn't, her hands were cuffed to something.

What is the name of God was going on?