Wisdom: Book of Light & Shadow, #2

By April A. Luna

To stop a full-blown war between fae, Sophia must locate and unlock the Book of Light and Shadows.

 

The fated lovers theme continues with WISDOM.

 

Aden and Sophia find themselves thrust into new obstacles, including grave doubts, devastating loss, rogue gargoyles, witches, and warlocks, as well as a frightening threat of revenge that's lurking in the shadows of every corner.

 

Life on Earth is about to change for all of humanity. The Doccioner clan, with the help of elitist Maalik assassins, seek to shatter the masquerade and expose the supernatural world.

 

Follow Sophia Mahoney as she steps between waking realities into the world she never knew existed. A world full of dark and white magic. A world where witches and gargoyles battle for a foothold. Sophia, born from both the light and darkness, must make a choice. Which side will she choose—light or dark?

• Language: English
• Publisher: DLG Publishing Partners
• Release date: Sep 8, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201857783

Book preview

OCD Much?

Sophia Mahoney

---

Trickling water rouses Sophia out of a sleepy stupor. Drawing in a deep breath, she sighs. Her screaming bladder demands her full attention. Opening her eyes, she glances around the room. She's alone in the king-size bed.

How did I not hear or feel Aden get up? I'm usually a light sleeper, the thinks.

She pulls the covers back and scoots to the edge of the bed.

The shirt she had on yesterday is no longer on the floor. Great, she thinks, now, what am I supposed to wear?

Rising, Sophia scans the room, again. There're three closed doors. She recognizes the entry point that Aden carried her through last night, which leads into the hallway.

One of the other two doors must be the bathroom. And right now, she sure could sure use one, especially with running water roaring in her ears.

Who the hell has a hot tub in their room, anyway? Oh, wait, Aden does. I'm surprised I didn't wake up needing to pee before now, she thinks with a smirk on her face.

Taking a step sends a sharp pain shooting up her leg. Her ankle throbs. She limps halfway over to the first door. Scrunching her nose, she hobbles the rest of the way there.

Wrapping a hand around the silver knob, she turns it clockwise. The door opens to reveal a walk-in closet.

Damn. Aden has more stuff than I do—she stifles a giggle, then frowns— well, more than I had.

A double rack of clothing lines the perfect square area.

OCD much? She wonders what else he's obsessive or compulsive about.

The garments hang in order from darkest to lightest, as well as long sleeve to short.

Wow. Aden must like the color blue because the closet is full of various shades of the color.

Slowly, she proceeds to the third and only remaining door left to explore.

Opening the heavy wooden door, she steps onto a gray slate tile that borders a large rectangular bathtub with a toilet on the other wall separated by a glass structure.

Sophia relieves her bladder and makes her way to the granite-covered vanity.

A fluted rectangular sink made of marble sits on top of the counter. Turning the faucet on, she washes her hands.

The water, crisp and refreshing, makes her skin feel rejuvenated, and she washes the grains of sleep from her eyes.

She peers into the black-trimmed mirror.

Brown, tired eyes stare back at her. She pushes a lock of unruly, curly hair out of her face.

God, I'm a mess, she thinks with a sigh.

The swelling around her left eye has gone down, but there's faint bruising showing under her lower lid and over her cheekbone.

Great, a shiner is just what every girls needs after a night of hot sex.

Tilting her head to the side, she moves her jaw back and forth. Other than a slight stiffness and a little discoloration, the area appears normal.

She takes in her reflection in the mirror. Her body is lean, tone—no doubt from years of running.

A bruised section on her left side, larger than a saucer above her waistline, marks where her assailant's boot struck her. It's tender to the touch.

An image of the park enters her mind. On the trail yesterday, she thought she truly wanted to be alone, but she's glad that Aden and Logan were there.

Her stomach grumbles, then growls. She slides a hand over her abdomen. A grin washes across her face.

Memories of Aden nipping the skin around her navel floods her thoughts. Sophia's face warms, and she shakes her head.

The shower stall is to the left.

It would be nice to bathe, she muses, perhaps, it'll help wake me up.

Sophia opens the door and turns on the shower head, waiting for the water to warm. She uses some body wash then shampoos her hair quickly, because she's not sure when Aden will come back. Once finished, she dries off and wraps a plush gray towel around her body and one around her hair.

Any pressure makes her ankle smarts. She limps out of the bathroom, but, at least, she can walk on it.

Stepping into Aden's closet, she reaches for a black dress shirt, thinks twice about the selection, and then grabs a blue T-shirt off a hanger.

I wonder if he'll notice the color—she rolls her eyes—of course, he will, it's blue, she thinks then slips the garment over her head.

The bottom of the shirt rests just above her upper thighs. With the right belt as an accessory and some Mary Janes or tennis shoes, she could flip it from a men’s clothing item into a feminine-looking shirt dress.

Looking over at the dresser inside his bedroom, she wonders if he has any boxers inside the drawers. Moreover, she ponders if he's going to be mad when he finds her wearing his clothing.

Well, it's not as if I've got a lot of options at the moment, she scoffs.

With hesitation, she slides the drawer one. A sensation of guilt washes over her for invading his personal space, but it’s not like she’s snooping or anything.

She moves a few garments around, surprised to find everything neatly folded, and again, put away by color-pattern as if taking into consideration the shades of a color wheel.

A pair of blue and white-striped boxers tucked in the left-hand side of the top drawer catch her eye

Great. More blue, she mouths.

She slips them on, then folds a section of the fabric over and rolls the waistband to make them snugger on her waist. Once satisfied they’ll stay on, she makes her way to the bathroom once again.

After towel drying her hair, she runs her fingers through it, trying to tame the rogue curls that seem to have a mind of their own.

Taking a deep breath, she gathers her thoughts and walks out of his room and into the unknown.

Trust Me

Sophia Mahoney

---

The hallway adjacent to his bedroom is cloaked in darkness, allowing shadows to snake about. Looking around, she doesn’t see a light switch.

She listens for any sound of life and hears nothing, not even outside ambient noise from the streets or day-to-day commuters.

It’s so quiet in Aden’s apartment, it brings to mind the staged model home displays at furniture stores early in the morning just before most shoppers arrive. Frequenting the local stores was something that she and her Uncle Hugo used to spend time doing.

Some people like to pass by clothing stores and specialty places like candle stores, electronic centers, and shoe outlets and window shop, but not her. She used to love to view and try out all the latest furniture arrivals.

Stepping into the empty living room, a flood of light blinds her. The sun is shining through the wall of windows that she recalls seeing last night, only the view then had been dark.

At the edge of the room, running water and clanking pans sound, making her jump. The thought of Aden preforming domestic duties, such as cooking or washing dishes, brings a soft giggle to her lips.

Following the noise, she steps into the kitchen.

A long marble island stretches across the room. It has eight silver-colored barstools spaced evenly under the lip of the counter.

Running water echoes in the open space, but she doesn't see anyone.

Aden, she calls out unsure as she rounds a little corner.

Well, hello there. You must be Sophia. A middle-aged woman with a warm smile stands next to the sink.

She nods. God, what must this woman think?

I'm Sally Jensen, Aden's housekeeper. Are you hungry, dear?

Yes, ma'am. She walks over to the sink where the woman stands with her hands under the running water, scrubbing a pan. Uhm . . . Mrs. Jensen?

Call me Sally.

The woman shuffles across the floor in what appear to be orthopedic shoes.

Mrs. Jensen is what people called my mother when she was in the land of the living.

Sally, where's Aden? Sophia glances around, looking for any sign that Aden had occupied the room prior.

He's in his office. When you're done with breakfast, I suspect you can looking for him, or he said he'd find you. A broad smile dances across her lips. He's already had breakfast and told me to make sure you had something hardy to eat this morning. She holds Sophia's gaze. That boy's an early riser, always has been since I've known him. Now, what can I get you? Do you want some eggs, biscuits, pancakes—all three?

Oh, good heaven’s no. Sophia nods and a giggle slips from between her lips. That way too much work, not to mention a lot of food. She scrunches her nose. Is there any cereal?

There's some oatmeal, if that's okay? Sally saunters to the pantry. Aden doesn't keep dry cereals in the house. He says they're not good for the body. The woman winks at Sophia. Doesn't keep sweets neither.

Sally sighs, retrieves a pan from the lower cabinet, and then she sets it on the stovetop. Making her way over to the sink, she grabs a bowl.

I can make it myself if you have a microwave safe dish. I’m more than good with nuking it. Plus, I don't want to be any trouble. And that's how I usually make it, anyway.

You cook oats in the microwave? Sally's eyebrows shoot up. Oh Lordy, Lordy, Lordy, I have got to see this.

Trust me. I can make all kinds of interesting and creative dishes in the microwave. It’s and art.

The woman chuckles and grabs a bowl.

Sophia limps to where