The Tainted Earth (Royals of the Realm Series #3)

Chapter 14

Good day, Pixies! 😊

Your prayers combined when I took the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers last Sept. 29, 2019 helped a lot, dear readers. ❤❤❤

The results were out last Sunday, 1st of December, and I made it! 😍 I passed the board exam and I am now a Licensed Professional Teacher! 🎉

Thank you for your love and support. ❤ Yes, YOU! 😊

Enjoy, my loves! 😘

******

"That is why we fight - in hopes of a day when we no longer need to." - Barack Obama

Earth Kingdom
Chrysanthemum Estate
The Mess Hall

Cara's POV

Everybody felt Alexander's power when we were in the Earth Kingdom. No one could deny it was The Leon. As a result, the freemen and the slaves followed Alexander and I back here in the Chrysanthemum Estate.

Alexander is a protector, he finds joy in gathering the wounded and distraught by life. I can feel through our bond that it was genuine, just like how he helped me when we first met. As his wife and bonded queen, (that's according to him) I'm willing to stand beside him and fight at all cost anyone who wishes to harm our people.

We are currently having a breakfast with everyone, chatting with newfound friends and watching the kids play with their element just outside. The additional volume of earth elves inhabiting the Chrysanthemum Estate made it lively and warm. Everyone's accommodated, all needs were supplied because everyone worked together to provide. Some helped in the fields, where fruits and vegetables were exported all over the realm, just like the way angels do. Earth elves and angels are the only ones who can nourish what's planted on earth, that's why both kingdoms are the primary sources of food supply.

When we arrived yesterday, I got a call from my friends in the demon kingdom. I explained to them everything I found out, starting when we were invited to the wedding of King Aer.

The bond. My new set of wings. Alexander's family. Everything.

They recalled what happened in the Immortal Tree and confirmed Alexander bit me, that's why I was pulled back to the world of the living. Regarding my new set of wings, it means I moved up the rank, which is weird since I wasn't even in the ranks anymore. From an archangel, I'm now a principality.

Yay.

To sum it up, they're happy that I didn't feel any pain when I grew another pair of wings. Regarding Alexander's family, they know he can handle them. They also know that I'm here as a back-up whenever necessary. We had to end the call since the Demon King's getting suspicious... a little.

I jumped when thunder rolled in the sky as a lightning shot through.

Did another deity make a promise on their throne?

"What's wrong, Cara?" Alexander asked when I stopped and stared blankly outside.

I shrugged, "I don't know. Just a bad feeling."

Ladies and gentlemen, the bad feeling happened. One moment we were watching the kids play, the next moment a dragon's already on our backyard. Not just any dragon. The Winter Warrior Dragon.

King Ahba Wiccan.

Thank God the kids are okay, maybe just a bit traumatized. He immediately shifted into his human form and the earth elves bowed politely.

"I'm sorry for barging in your territory, but I need your help." He said after acknowledging the polite gestures of the elves.

I looked at Alex, "You should talk in your office, I'll handle the kids."

Ahba cleared his throat, "Your help, actually."

Oh.

"Well, we can talk in the greenhouse. No one's there at this time of the day." I suggested, pulling Alexander with me as I led the way.

Ahba seemed fine with it as he followed suit without complaint. When we're settled on the picnic table Ahba looked up as if asking for some guidance before he started spilling the beans, "I need a queen."

Alexander growled his response right away with glowing eyes, "She's mine."

Ahba raised his hands in surrender, "I know, I know. I'm not talking about Cara specifically, I'm talking about finding my own."

Alexander pursed his lips but still he calmed himself, the earth stone still growling a little. "Continue, please."

"The goddess Hekate told me to find a worthy queen for the kingdom and for myself, a goddess' champion. I told her I'm fine with staying single for a while but she's not having any of it. I reasoned that if she wants a worthy queen, it will take time finding the right one." He started.

I smirked, "Let me guess... she told you where to find her, correct?"

"Exactly," he sighed.

"If you already know where to find her, then why are you still asking for Cara's help?" Alexander still has his doubts.

I chuckled at his confused yet suspicious look, "Hekate is a goddess, Ahba is her champion. If Hekate's gonna suggest a queen for him, it's either an unmarried queen, a princess, or another goddess."

He nodded, "But it's not you, right?"

"It's not me," I assured, "But if Ahba came to me after this conversation with Hekate, it only means one thing."

The metaphorical cloud over his head cleared in an instant as the cogs in his brain processed everything. Alexander's brows shot up when he realized it, "Lana. Your sister."

Ahba nodded eagerly, "She told me you can help me free her."

Me? I can't even help myself from dying and being reincarnated all over again. I scratched my neck awkwardly, "I-I don't know. The curse was unbreakable. If it isn't, I might've forgotten all about it since I've been reincarnated many times now. I don't even remember my past lives."

His expression fell and I suddenly felt bad for him and Lana. If I could free her, she'll finally live the life she deserves. Spending millennias in that prison must've been terrible for her. The loneliness, bitterness, and deafening silence... she'd fight tooth and nails if there's still a chance for her to be free. Even how little the possibility is.

For fuck's sake, we're goddesses. I can do it!

"You know what? Maybe we should go ask her about the curse so we can find a way how to free her." I suggested.

Ahba looked surprised and a little panicked at the same time, "Like, right now?? Won't we plan first? Fight monsters and face obstacles?"

Alexander chuckled, "You're nervous, aren't you?"

His shoulders sagged, "I actually don't know what to feel. It's like an arranged marriage and I'm not even refusing because Hekate deemed this move best for the kingdom. What if our personalities don't complement each other? What if the marriage failed and we'll only end up hurting each other? What if I can't love her and vise versa?"

Man, this king really is in trouble.

I had no answer to that. Alexander, however, stood and laid both his hands on the troubled king's shoulders, forcing Ahba to face him. "Listen, bro." He started, "You are the only one who can answer those questions in your head. But not yet. Not until you finally meet her and spend time with her. Only then your heart will know what role she'll be playing in your life from that moment onwards. Trust your heart, and trust the process."

Warmth blossomed in my heart at his heartfelt words, never knowing the mighty lion could show such affectionate side. When his gaze met mine, my heart started beating erratically. I would definitely drown him with kisses if we weren't in front of a guest.

Later, mighty lion.