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

Burr and me did drawings. We did bunny wabbits and wolfies, and we dwared the nastee munsta with the nastee eyes so daddy no not to be nice to it if he see it. He had to say, 'bad munsta! Go way!'

Mommy and daddy comed back later. Daddy picked me up, which made me super happy cuz daddy no pick me up lots less Lou cwy or Lou sleepy. He give my cheek a kissy and say he needs to check my ouchie.

And Nae was super right gen! It no ouchie and there no nasty stuff going awll out and leaky.

/"Guess that black stuff worked,/" mommy said as he inspected my hand. He had sat me by the sink and I could swingy my legs. Daddy stood next to him. /"It's almost healed completely./"

/"Stupid fucking demon,/" daddy said. /"He can't keep us in the dark, Johno. He should have told us what that stuff was; we shouldn't have to play Russian Roulette as to whether it will cure or kill him!/"

Chapter93