In the silvery waterfall of moonlight, Jonathan Aztec, my second in command, holding rank as Beta of the Northridge pack, was something to behold. His powerful shoulders seemed to carry the waning gibbous, and the shadows that devoured the vast grounds of Battleridge manor granted him a wide berth.
He was a superior specimen. He was a male worthy of the ranking he'd been bestowed. But like all creatures, he wasn't born perfect, and his character flaw was a fault that bled out into the night like a severed artery: Concern.
It charged the air between us, a thick blanket that settled against the lungs like a boa-constrictor's loving embrace.
"What did you find?" I asked. The perverse silence that had entombed the dilapidated courtyard, screaming so loud it rang through my ears like a twisted lullaby, was shattered upon his approach. His boots smacked against the waterlogged ground, echoing in a way that spoke of his failures before he'd even opened his mouth. 
"Nothing,"
.......
"Until I can figure out what's going on, nobody finds out about the boy. Understand?"
"Understood."
"You're not going to ..." The pause that followed dragged out. "He's just a baby, Sterling."
"You're dismissed."

The Littlest Light

<p>/"You've been so brave, my little ignis,/" Nae said as he sat on the end of my bed. He was so silly! He no fit! His legs haves to fall all over the side, and his head goes wibbly-wobbly as he make his hair awll dancey for me. /"I'm sorry that I didn't get to you quicker; it was never my intention for you or your brother to get hurt./"</p>

<p>/"It go awll ouchie, Nae./" My eyes were still awll sleepy. They make everything look funny, like when I dunky-dunk my head under the water at bath time. But I knew that Nae needed to see how brave I was again, so I waved my ouchie hand at him so he could see all the nose-blowy tissue stuff that the nastee man had wrapped around it. It was the same as the thing that mommy had put on, but mommy had been super nice and no make Lou cwy! /"Mommy kissy better./"</p>

Chapter91