Under Darkened Skies by H.E. Bauman EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
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- Author: H.E. Bauman
- Language: English
- Genre: New Adult & College Fantasy
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 2 MB
- Price: Free
Astrea Sovna hated deviations from her routine. She looked up from where
she was digging around in her satchel, a handful of coins jingling in her
closed fist. “What do you mean you don’t have any pancakes?”
Carmella’s narrow auburn eyebrows lifted. “Sold out yesterday,” the café
owner said. “I haven’t gotten a shipment of cinnamon in over two weeks.”
“No shipment?” Astrea echoed.
“Another blockade by the Delians. Sorry, Astrea. I can get you something
else if you’d like.”
The pastry case to Astrea’s right was filled with everything from
miniature lemon tarts to flaky chocolate-filled croissants to sweet raisin
buns. None of them were as good as the delicately fried cinnamon pancakes
she loved so much.
Astrea’s stomach rumbled. She sighed, then said, “Two raspberry
turnovers, I guess.”
“And your usual coffee?”
“Yes, but make it two, actually.” Whenever Astrea went on these coffee
runs for herself, she liked to bring something back for her boss.
“That’ll be four lire.”
Astrea handed the coins over to the café’s owner, then moved toward the
opposite end of the counter so the next customer could order.
The White Lily smelled like it always did on Thursday mornings: the
sharpness of espresso, the sweetness of sugar-laden pastries, and the neverending wisteria blooming outside. It was Astrea’s favorite café in the
Helosian capital of Kalama, nestled right in the heart of the Market District
but away from the more crowded tourist traps that served watered-down
versions of the coffee the city was famous for. It was even beautiful inside,
a mix of creamy whites and lush brown accents. Wide windows spanned the
front and rear walls of the shop, and the door at the back led to a private
garden with a few extra tables for customers.
She’d been coming here since starting university, and even though she’d
graduated two years prior, Astrea couldn’t help but stop in at least a couple
of days a week. In fact, she loved The White Lily so much that she’d
chosen it for her birthday lunch a couple of months before. Her best friends
had said a twenty-fourth birthday required more flair, but Astrea liked
celebrations better when they were quiet.
Astrea reached into the pocket of her linen skirt, fishing out a silver
pocket watch on a delicate chain. She popped the lid open. If she left here
within the next ten minutes, she could still get back to the Great Library
before her boss left for her meeting.
One of Carmella’s employees, a young woman with dark curly hair
styled in two poofy buns, smiled as she handed Astrea a crisp white bag.
“The coffees will be ready in a minute.”
Astrea wasn’t sure who the employee was; Carmella always had a
rotation of university students working for her. All that mattered was that
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