Toward dawning light, p.56
Toward Dawning Light, page 56
“It’s my kitchen today!” Cressida called over her shoulder.
“I hardly think Lodestar Bakery owns my house, Cress.”
“Oh, just get out of here!”
Smiling despite herself, Astrea stopped fiddling with the vase of flowers Sarsali had given her and headed out into the hall. She wanted this day to be perfect, but she had to let Sarsali do her work. Sarsali knew how to put on a party, and she might’ve wanted it to be even more perfect than Astrea did.
Balthazar was ushering everyone else outside and into the early summer sunshine. The parlor and dining room were both empty now, and Adi’s loud laugh grew distant and muffled. Astrea shook her head. There was nothing else for her to do except find Jin.
She took her time as she passed through the foyer. The stairs creaked under her feet, but Astrea didn’t mind. She loved this home she and Jin had made, with its spacious layout and cozy bedrooms, its green and blue wallpapers and family pictures hanging on the wall. As she headed down the upstairs hallway, she straightened one particular portrait, a photo of their wedding day that included Saros. Her heart ached, but she knew he’d be so happy for them now.
“Jin?” Astrea called as she approached the room at the end of the hall. The door was cracked open.
The happiest giggle bounced off the walls, and Astrea couldn’t help but laugh. She loved that sound.
“Are they ready?” Jin asked as she pushed the door open.
He had Penelope perched on his hip. She let out a delighted squeal and reached for Astrea. “Mama!”
Jin had been in charge of getting Penelope ready for her first birthday party. Eliana had sent over a delicate pink dress for Penelope to wear; the bottom hem was embroidered with white and purple flowers. It was possibly the cutest thing Astrea had ever seen, although she also thought just about everything Penelope did or wore was adorable.
“My sweet girl!” Taking their daughter, Astrea smoothed back some of Penelope’s chestnut brown curls.
Penelope huffed and dropped her head to Astrea’s shoulder. Warm excitement radiated off her, and Astrea hugged her a bit tighter.
Jin smiled warily. “I’m worried about her missing her nap.”
“We’ll let her sleep if she gets tired.”
“We will,” Jin said. “Will Sarsali? Or Adi?”
At the mention of her grandmother and uncle, Penelope perked up again. Her silver eyes widened.
“You want to go see your guests?” Jin asked her, and she babbled in return.
Taking that as an affirmative, Astrea started back toward the first floor. It hadn’t been an easy road after the war ended six years earlier. Eliana had managed to calm most of Helosia’s unrest within the first year, and things were even better now, but the reality of void magic still had civilians and governments on edge. There was always the possibility that someone would discover new aetherium deposits or that the Paragon would restructure themselves and start anew.
And yet, as Jin’s hand brushed the small of Astrea’s back and Penelope snuggled into her embrace, all those concerns faded away until they were just a distant memory. Astrea had never been so happy.
The last six years had brought so much change. Astrea and Jin had gotten to travel for fun. They’d bought this townhome in Nobleman’s Hill, right down the street from where Sarsali and Balthazar still lived. Jin served as one of Eliana’s advisors alongside Zephyrine, and Astrea split her time between helping Cressida at her bakery and volunteering at healing clinics in the city.
Besides opening Lodestar Bakery, Cressida and Lennor had gotten married. Though Lennor was still learning her way around the kitchen, she was a savvy manager. Eliana and Nicos had gotten married a year after she ascended the throne, and they were now expecting their first baby—of many, Eliana promised.
Marko had moved to Kalama the first chance he got, and he and Adi had already been married for four years. They’d even started working as mage trainers and hired Civan on to help. He was happy unpartnered and loved his new job.
They weren’t the only ones making changes. Noemi had been working with Raela at the Great Library for years now, and though she swore at least once a month she’d leave if Raela didn’t get more organized, Astrea saw the gleam in Noemi’s eye every time she visited her old workplace. As for Lucian and Rami, Astrea never quite knew where they stood with each other. But they visited Kalama often, and it was clear they loved each other as much as they irritated each other.
They’d all lost things in the war, and they would always feel that pain. But Astrea loved how life had turned out. Even with the difficulties motherhood brought, she wouldn’t trade it for the world. She loved her family—each and every one of the bunch—more than anything. And they all loved Penelope, the newest member.
“My Poppy!” Sarsali exclaimed as soon as they neared the kitchen. “Where’s my Poppy?”
Penelope let out a series of squawks and babbles, her excitement and joy electric on Astrea’s skin. As soon as Sarsali poked her head out into the hall, Penelope flailed her chubby little arms. All Astrea could do was laugh and pass her off. Sarsali adored being a grandmother and often strongarmed Astrea and Jin into letting her babysit for no reason other than to spend time with Penelope.
“My Poppy on her birthday!” Sarsali cooed.
“Hey!” Adi’s voice came from the kitchen. “You don’t get to hog her all day!”
Jin chuckled and rubbed Astrea’s shoulders. “You do realize that’s our daughter you two are fighting over, right?” he asked as Adi strolled out of the kitchen.
“And I’m her favorite uncle, right, Pops?” Adi asked. Penelope grinned up at him. “See?”
As they moved into the kitchen, Sarsali brought Penelope over to the counter to look at the pink flowers she’d finished arranging. Penelope reached out and touched one of them, heeding Sarsali’s warning to be gentle.
“What’ll you do if you’re not her favorite uncle anymore, Adi?” Cressida asked. She opened the only white pastry box left on the kitchen island, unveiling a small three-tier cake decorated with red and pink frosting flowers. Poppies, specifically. “You want this outside, Az?”
“I think your dad set up a table for everything on the porch,” Astrea said, starting for the window to check. Everyone was lounging around in the garden, regaled by whatever story Balthazar was telling them. “I think—”
“It’s all set, sweetheart,” Sarsali said. “You need to relax. Jin, make her relax.”
“I just want everyone to have a nice time, especially since Lucian and Rami traveled—” Astrea tried, but Sarsali clicked her tongue.
“I told you we’d take care of it all,” she said.
“I’ll take the cake,” Adi offered. As he waited for Cressida to set the cake on a glass stand, he leaned across the island and said, “And I’ll have you know, Cress, that there’s no way I’m not Poppy’s favorite uncle. Wait until you see all the presents I got her.”
“Adi,” Jin warned. “We talked about this.”
He frowned. “She only turns one once. Surely you can let me spoil her this one day.”
“You say that all the time,” Jin said. “She only does this or that for the first time once. You can’t use that excuse forever!”
“Sure I can.” Adi grinned, making his cheek dimple. “And Marko’s not going to stop me, so get used to it.”
Jin rolled his eyes.
“Enough talk,” Sarsali said. “Let’s bring you out to see Grandpa, Poppy. Do you want to go see him?”
Penelope was all smiles and giggles as they headed outside. Everyone was there, all smiles, too, as they cheered for the birthday girl. Balthazar made a big show of scooping Penelope out of Sarsali’s arms, and nobody could agree on who got to hold her next. They eventually laid several large blankets in a shady area of grass so that Penelope could play with some of her new toys. Her favorite was a stuffed orange cat Civan had gifted her, and she made a game of throwing it and making Civan chase it down for her. Astrea wasn’t sure she’d ever seen Penelope—or Civan—laugh so hard.
This was Penelope’s first birthday, yes, but it was also the first time all of them had gotten together like this in months. Having everyone in one place meant so much to Astrea after all they’d been through together.
They spent the next few hours catching up, from Noemi’s latest restoration project in special collections at the library to Astrea and Eliana’s healing clinic project in the city to one of Adi and Civan’s more troublesome magic students. They talked about Nicos and Eliana’s impending foray into parenthood, Marko’s attempts to get Cressida to offer more coffee blends at her bakery, and Sarsali’s new gardening work. They even got Lucian to loosen up and have a drink, which Rami claimed he desperately needed.
And even when they had to move the party inside thanks to a late afternoon thunderstorm, Astrea didn’t mind. In fact, Eliana had needed it, because as soon as she plopped onto the sofa in the parlor, she’d fallen asleep. Astrea didn’t miss the fatigue that came with growing a child, but she was glad Eliana had a soft place to land.
By the time the seventh evening bell rolled around, their friends packed up their things and left for the night, promising to all get together again the next day before Lucian and Rami had to travel home. The Nikaphoroses stayed behind to help Astrea clean up while Jin got Penelope ready for bed.
Once they were gone, Astrea wearily climbed the stairs to the second floor. The hallway was dark, and only a low light came from Penelope’s room. Astrea cracked the door open and found Jin rocking Penelope in his arms as he stared out the window.
“Is she asleep?” Astrea whispered as she joined them and set a hand on Jin’s shoulder.
He glanced down at her, his smile both bright and gentle. Astrea knew that look. He’d worn it often since Penelope was born.
He was at peace, too.
Fatherhood suited him. He’d settled into it with more ease than Astrea could’ve imagined, and he doted on Penelope. The slower routines they had now as a family of three, days spent playing with Penelope in their garden or taking her to visit the Nikaphoroses. Days spent lazing around in the house while she napped, or even nights just the two of them when Sarsali practically forced them to let her babysit. Sometimes, Astrea would come home to find Jin and Penelope taking a nap together, or him reading stories to her, or cooking something new for her to try now that she’d started eating solids. He loved being a father, and Astrea loved watching him and their daughter.
“Bathed, changed, and asleep,” he said, then moved to set her in her crib. He smoothed back some of her unruly curls and smiled again. “Finally asleep.”
Jin turned off the lamp, took Astrea’s hand in his, and led her down the hall to their bedroom. He helped her out of her dress, and only after they both showered off the long day did they climb into bed.
“It’s a little early for this, don’t you think?” Astrea half asked, half teased as they settled in. “You used to stay up far later than this.”
“Chasing babies—and Adi—around all day wears a man out,” Jin said.
“Do you miss it?” Astrea asked. “When it was just the two of us.”
“Sometimes,” he said. “And yet I can barely remember when it wasn’t the three of us. It feels like she’s always been with us somehow.”
Astrea smiled up at him. She knew that feeling well. “Do you think everyone had fun today?”
“I’m sure of it. They love our girl.”
“And she loves them.”
Jin kissed the top of Astrea’s head. “That she does. I’m glad she has such a big family to love her. Makes me worry a little less.”
“Me too,” Astrea whispered.
Life was fragile, but love built resilience. She knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Penelope would grow up loved and able to overcome anything the stars might throw her way. Astrea and Jin would make sure of it, and so would her grandparents and all of her aunts and uncles.
“Thank you for giving us Poppy,” Jin said.
“Well,” she said wryly, “you played your role, too.”
He laughed, warm and deep. “Smart-ass.”
“You like it.”
“I love it,” he said. “I love you, always.”
“Always,” Astrea whispered, letting Jin’s sunshine warmth and steady peace wash over her for the millionth time that day. With him, and with her family, she was sure that feeling would never end.
A Quick Note
Thank you so much for reading Toward Dawning Light and finishing the Darkened Skies series! If you enjoyed this book—or any in the series—please consider leaving a rating and review on Amazon, Goodreads, The Storygraph, or wherever you review books. This helps other readers decide if they want to give the series a try.
If you want to get more Darkened Skies news and free bonus content, sign up for my newsletter here! I’ll also be releasing other alternate perspectives and deleted scenes, and you’ll be able to learn about giveaways, upcoming new releases for my other projects, and more.
Books by H.E. Bauman
The Darkened Skies Series
Forged by Flames: A Darkened Skies Prequel
Under Darkened Skies: Darkened Skies Book One
Into Whispering Shadows: Darkened Skies Book Two
Amid Twisted Chaos: Darkened Skies Book Three
Beyond Veiled Destinies: Darkened Skies Book Four
Toward Dawning Light: Darkened Skies Book Five
Coming in 2025
The Starborne Saga, a space fantasy series
Acknowledgments
I can’t believe this series is finished. I started dreaming it up in 2018, the first year Astrea Sovna showed up in my imagination. Six years these characters have been with me, and now their journey is complete. I’m happy to report, though, that my journey as an author is just beginning.
To my team—Sarah, Kayla, Michelle, Laura, and Jeanine—these books would not be where they are without your input, feedback, advice, and support. Seriously, it takes a village to get a book out there, and I’m so grateful you had my back.
To my husband, thank you for always cheering me on as I wrote this series, even when it meant long nights, early mornings, and many Sunday afternoons of me locked in my office. You believe in me even when I don’t believe in myself, and you’re just the best.
To my family and friends, thank you for everything as I’ve worked on these books. Buying copies, telling friends, and even not forcing me to talk about my books, because yes, I’m still so strangely shy about it!
To Hayley, at the risk of sounding so repetitive in this acknowledgments section, thank you for going from total internet stranger to one of my biggest supporters and best friends. I’m so glad we get to do this author thing together!
To my street team, thank you for not your your enthusiasm but your help in getting the word out about the Darkened Skies series. Your work for the author community doesn’t go unnoticed, and I hope you know how much we all appreciate your effort!
And finally, to all my readers, thank you for finishing this journey with me, Astrea, and the whole Darkened Skies crew. Saying goodbye is never easy, but the love you’ve shown these characters makes it a little easier. I’ll have new stories and new worlds for you soon.
About Author
H.E. Bauman is a fantasy author fascinated with all things magical. After spending her childhood writing stories, she went on to receive her bachelor’s in English and has continued writing ever since. When she’s not reading or writing, she enjoys playing tennis, immersing herself in video games, and spending time with her family.
If you want to get in touch, visit H.E.’s website or follow her on social media.
H.E. Bauman, Toward Dawning Light
