Beyond veiled destinies.., p.1
Beyond Veiled Destinies (Darkened Skies Book 4), page 1
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2024 by H.E. Bauman
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
First paperback edition June 2024
Cover design by MiblArt
Map by Cartographybird Maps
Jeanine Harrell of Indie Edits with Jeanine
ISBN 979-8-9888024-6-4 (paperback)
ISBN 979-8-9888024-7-1 (hardcover)
ISBN 979-8-9888024-5-7 (ebook)
www.hebauman.com
To those who are grieving
Contents
Content Warning
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
3. Chapter 3
4. Chapter 4
5. Chapter 5
6. Chapter 6
7. Chapter 7
8. Chapter 8
9. Chapter 9
10. Chapter 10
11. Chapter 11
12. Chapter 12
13. Chapter 13
14. Chapter 14
15. Chapter 15
16. Chapter 16
17. Chapter 17
18. Chapter 18
19. Chapter 19
20. Chapter 20
21. Chapter 21
22. Chapter 22
23. Chapter 23
24. Chapter 24
25. Chapter 25
26. Chapter 26
27. Chapter 27
28. Chapter 28
29. Chapter 29
30. Chapter 30
31. Chapter 31
32. Chapter 32
33. Chapter 33
34. Chapter 34
35. Chapter 35
36. Chapter 36
37. Chapter 37
38. Chapter 38
39. Chapter 39
40. Chapter 40
41. Chapter 41
42. Chapter 42
43. Chapter 43
44. Chapter 44
45. Chapter 45
46. Chapter 46
47. Chapter 47
48. Chapter 48
49. Chapter 49
50. Chapter 50
51. Chapter 51
52. Chapter 52
53. Chapter 53
54. Chapter 54
55. Chapter 55
56. Chapter 56
57. Chapter 57
58. Chapter 58
A Note to Readers
Books by H.E. Bauman
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Content Warning
If you do not wish to read the content warnings, just skip this page.
Thank you for picking up Beyond Veiled Destinies, the fourth book in the Darkened Skies series. If you have not read the first three books yet, you will need to do that before you read this book. The series must be read in order.
The story includes themes and events that may not be suitable for some readers:
Fantasy and magical violence, including artillery and other “modern” weaponry, used both in war scenarios and against civilians
On- and off-screen character deaths
Blood and injuries
Alcohol consumption
Nightmares
Stalking and threats
Panic attacks, anxiety, and PTSD
Reference to sexual assault (does not happen, discussion of the hypothetical)
References to torture, parental death, current war, historical wars, & rebellion
Please take care of yourself as you read and stop reading any time you need to.
Chapter 1
Grand Duchess Ysabel’s office was just a blur of color and energy: orange anxiety, gray hate, white panic, deep blue grief. They pushed against Astrea, overwhelming her every sense, as her friends listened to Ysabel make the same arguments she’d been making for days.
Prince Kaius Auris of Helosia had Jin’s team and Adi’s sister in custody. And though he was somewhere over the border, preparing for a meeting with Jin and Eliana, there would be no meeting. At least not if Jin had his way.
“We’re going to have to talk to him eventually,” Grand Duchess Ysabel said, resting her forearms on the edge of her desk. It was the third time in less than a day that she’d tried to have this conversation with both Jin and Eliana. “You cannot ignore your brother or your father.”
“I don’t plan on ignoring them,” Jin said. “I plan on stopping them. Are you with me or not, Ysabel? There’s time for you to back out. We’ll find another way.”
Ysabel huffed. “That’s not what I want, Varojin.”
“Then allow me to make this very clear.” Jin crossed his arms tightly over his chest, wrinkling his black shirt. “There is no negotiating with my father and brother, not when it comes to this. Give them an inch and they’ll take ten miles. Surely you recognize that from the times you’ve dealt with my father over the years.”
“Yes, but there are lives directly on the line now, not hypotheticals.” The grand duchess looked at Eliana. “Talk some sense into your brother.”
“He’s right, though.” Eliana held Ysabel’s gaze, unyielding as faint sheens of red anger and gray distrust bled into her aura. “Kaius is going to do whatever it takes to get whatever it is he wants. Have we received word from him yet? Caliban should’ve been back to him by now.”
“No word,” Crown Prince Veiko said. He stood behind his aunt’s desk, as always, the picture of a casual royal with his plain white shirt and black slacks. His chestnut brown hair was slightly mussed, no doubt due to the way he’d stayed up all night planning with Lucian and Zephyrine. “They can’t be far over the Helosian border, though. Logistically, it wouldn’t make sense.”
Astrea leaned against the wall near Ysabel’s office door. She wasn’t sure why, exactly, she’d been called into this meeting. But Ysabel had asked to see her, too. She was supposed to be on her way to see Ivy, the head palace healer, but it would have to wait a little while longer.
“Then we head down to Fort Silverpine as planned, and we move forward with the mission,” Jin said. “Simple as that. I’m getting my people back in the next forty-eight hours.”
“Impossible,” Ysabel muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Fine. Go.” The corners of her mouth twitched. “Miss Sovna. Commander Lucian tells me you’ve found a particular way to attack the void mages?”
So that’s what this is about. “Yes, Your Highness.” She’d had a long conversation with Lucian about that just the morning before, about the way she’d been able to reach through that impossible cold and find Solana and The One’s energy beyond the shroud that seemed to cover them. “I’ve told the commander as much as I can. I’ve only done it twice.”
“Twice is good enough,” Ysabel said. “When you get to Fort Silverpine, I’d like you to share this information with the Lightbringers stationed there.”
“Of course, Your Highness.” Were those Lightbringers Souleaters, then? When Ysabel didn’t elaborate, Astrea kept her mouth shut. She’d just ask Lucian when she had a chance.
“Veiko, see to it that Varojin has whatever he needs,” Ysabel said. “I believe Commander Lucian is preparing the airship now.”
“Of course,” Veiko said with the smallest of nods.
“I need a few minutes to speak with you,” Jin said to Ysabel. “Just the two of us.”
Orange anxiety wavered around Eliana, but Ysabel replied with a simple “Alright.” With a wave of her hand and a few falsely kind words, the rest of them were dismissed.
Astrea led the way into the hallway beyond the grand duchess’s office, Eliana on her heels and Veiko not far behind. When the door closed behind him, he sighed.
“I apologize for my aunt,” he said, running his hand through his tousled hair and just making it more of a mess. “I know she’s worried about Varojin going on this mission—”
“From what I’ve gathered about my brother’s experiences in the Helosian army, Veiko,” Eliana said, “this mission isn’t going to be a problem. I am, however, worried about what he’s going to say to Ysabel.” She glanced at the door.
“Hopefully nothing to put her in a worse mood,” Veiko murmured. “I’ll smooth things over as much as I can. Go, make sure you have what you need. I’ll check in with Commander Lucian.”
Veiko strode down the hall, not giving either of them a chance to argue. Not that Astrea would; she needed to finish her other task before leaving for southern Novaria.
“You coming, Az?” Eliana asked.
“I promised Cress I’d go see Ivy before we leave.”
Eliana half smiled. “Well, when you’re done, come back upstairs. We should be ready to leave within the hour.”
“I’ll be as quick as I can.”
As Eliana headed down the corridor in the same direction as Veiko, Astrea let her shoulders drop. Beyond the door, she heard nothing. No murmurs. No shouts. And there wasn’t even a shred of emotion coming from the office to give her any clue as to what Jin was saying to Ysabel.
Later. She could figure it out later.
As Astrea approached the infirmary, the guards and soldiers she passed made little eye contact with her—not that
The infirmary, at least, was quiet as Astrea stepped inside. Just one other patient was in, someone Astrea hadn’t expected to see: the Stargazer Mariya. She had just pushed herself up to a sitting position, and Ivy was walking away from her cot.
“Oh, good!” Ivy called in her light, soothing voice. “Take a seat, Astrea.”
Astrea wove her way through several rows of cots until she got to the back of the room where Mariya sat. The Stargazer offered Astrea a tight-lipped smile.
“Good to see you up and about, Miss Sovna. That was quite the fight a few days ago, at least according to the commander.”
“Yeah,” Astrea replied, not really sure what else to say. What was there to say?
“You’re in good hands,” Mariya continued as she smoothed back some of her tight curls. “Ivy’s one of the best healers we’ve ever had here at the palace.”
“Are you feeling alright?” Astrea asked.
“Oh, fine, fine.” Mariya waved her hand dismissively. “I’ve had problems with my joints ever since I was a little girl. Weekly healing treatments stave off the worst of it.”
“I’m glad Ivy’s able to help.”
“Me too.” Grabbing her cane, Mariya pushed up onto her feet. “Back to work for me. Safe travels.”
Astrea settled down onto her cot and folded her hands in her lap, feeling entirely awkward. She’d never really had to see other healers before, although once, when she was twelve, she’d scraped her knees so badly while playing a game with Eliana that Jin had taken her to the palace healers back home. Astrea had always eased her own bumps, bruises, and ailments as long as the royal siblings hadn’t seen them first.
“I’m very glad to see you back here,” Ivy said. She circled Astrea’s cot, hands resting on her wide hips. “Have you taken my advice and been resting?”
“I have,” Astrea said. “Though it’s only been a day.”
“Indeed.” Ivy gestured to the cot. “Lie down for a quick exam.”
“I feel fine,” Astrea said as she settled back against the flat pillow. It was a half-truth at best; she was so tired. But she’d extended her magic far beyond what she knew was possible, not just for herself but others, too. Of course she was tired. “Just fatigued, but I thought we expected that.”
“We did.” Ivy said nothing else as she worked, drawing a small stream of water from a nearby bowl. It circled her hands, then Ivy began pressing down on different parts of Astrea’s body. Her forehead, her abdomen, her sternum. “This all feels okay?”
“Fine.” And it did, except for the cool dampness of the water.
“Good.” Ivy sent the water back to the bowl, then helped Astrea sit up. “I’ve heard through the grapevine that you’re heading out again already.”
“We are, yes.”
“And what happened to my prescription to rest?”
Astrea almost shrank back under Ivy’s scrutiny, but the Purifier’s blue eyes were gentle and her tone kind. Her demeanor reminded Astrea of Sarsali, actually. She perked up a bit. “My team needs me. There’s a lot we need to do.”
“And yet, if you burn yourself out, you can’t help them at all.” Ivy smiled. “Rest while you can. You’re leaving . . . ?”
“Shortly,” Astrea said. “Though I don’t think we’ll be heading out into the field immediately.” She actually wasn’t sure what Jin’s full plan was, just that they needed to get down to Fort Silverpine and Irvina as soon as possible. “And Commander Lucian’s joining us, so I won’t be the only Lightbringer.”
“Good. Try to take another day at least, if you’re able. The exhaustion should feel better by then. It’ll help if Lucian takes a bit of it on if he can, too. Could speed the process up for you.”
“I’ll talk to him,” Astrea said.
“Good.” Ivy smiled again. “Then you are clear for restricted duties, Miss Sovna. Be safe.”
By the time Astrea made it back upstairs in the far wing of the palace, she’d expected to find Jin waiting for her in their shared room. She’d hoped to go straight to him, find out what he’d spoken about with Ysabel. Apparently the stars had other plans.
“Az!” Cressida called from her open bedroom door. “Can you come here?”
It wasn’t just Cressida’s interruption that prevented Astrea from going to find Jin. He wasn’t in their room, at least not according to her magic. Was he still with Ysabel?
Astrea headed for Cressida’s room, following her best friend inside and shutting the door behind her. A tight knot of anxiety bloomed around Cressida, a mirror to the one strangulating Adi’s aura. He stood at the far end of the sitting room, Marko not far away. But Marko was unreadable, as he often was. The only thing giving away his worries was the crease on his forehead.
“What’s wrong?” Astrea asked.
“Ellie and Jin aren’t back,” Cressida said. “Where’d they go? Aren’t we leaving soon?”
“Ellie said she was coming up here before I went to see Ivy. If she’s not here, I don’t know where she is. And last I knew, Jin was having a private conversation with Ysabel.”
“About?” Marko asked.
Astrea shrugged. “I’m not sure. He asked for the meeting, though Ysabel doesn’t seem thrilled with his plan. I think she’s frustrated with him.”
“Hm.” Marko’s attention slid to Adi. “You did warn me.”
“I want to go on this mission as much as anyone,” Adi said, that orange flaring brighter in his aura, “but I’m not sure he’s thought it through. We don’t even have intel on where Kaius is, do we?”
“Not that Jin seems to be aware of,” Astrea said. “But we’ll find him, right?”
Adi’s tight expression gave her no confidence.
Marko patted him on the shoulder. “We’ll find Prince Kaius, your friends, and your sister. I’ll make sure of it.”
Adi tried to muster a smile. He’d been a ghost in the last day, never around when Astrea was. And quieter than his usual self since they’d fled Kalama, too. She hated seeing him like that. Adi was sweet and kind and smart, and his little sister certainly didn’t deserve to be in Kaius’s custody.
“We’ll be at the fort tonight,” Cressida said, “and then you and Jin can head out first thing in the morning.”
Adi shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Maybe we could finish packing?” Astrea asked. “I need to, anyway. Then we can get on the airship as soon as Jin’s ready. We won’t waste a moment.”
Adi nodded. “Sure.”
“I’ll be ready in ten,” Cressida said. “Meet you outside?”
As Marko, Adi, and Astrea agreed, they shuffled out of Cressida’s room and into the guard-filled hallway beyond. Marko headed down the corridor, but as Adi turned to go to his room, Astrea reached out and touched his forearm. He turned toward her, eyebrows drawn together over his usually happy dual-colored eyes.
“Jin’s going to do what he must,” Astrea said. “I know he will.”
“I know,” he said.
“We’ll figure it out as a team.”
“I know.”
Astrea hesitated, then pulled him into a quick hug. Laughter bubbled out of Adi as he patted her on the back.
“What’s that for?” he asked.
“You looked like you could use it.”
“Yeah, I suppose I could.”
“Tell Marko to hug you, then,” Astrea said. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”
“Oh, I think—” It was his turn to hesitate. But then he smiled just enough for the dimple under his green eye to appear. “Maybe.”
They parted ways after another quick hug, and Astrea hurried into her room across the hall. Just as before, Jin wasn’t there. He’d have to show up soon, right?
Astrea tried not to pay any more attention to it. Instead, she changed into a loose black training shirt and the thick cotton pants that went along with it. She didn’t love it, but it seemed more appropriate than showing up to the fort in a dress. She’d just pulled on her boots and finished packing her knapsack when the bedroom door opened. Jin strode in, his features tight.
“I’ll be ready in just a few minutes,” he said, barely even looking in Astrea’s direction. “Ellie said the airship’s waiting.” He went straight for the wardrobe and yanked out his knapsack.
