Valentine had no qualms with telling the rest of his family all at once how he had handled Rhyme’s failures...but he couldn’t do that to Rhythm. The boy had been with her all those years with the slavers and he no doubt held a special place in her heart. For her sake he would tell her in private.

Though Valentine thought he might have to convince her otherwise, he had no intention of taking Rhyme from her. She would still be his mother same as Valentine would still be his father. They would never have what they’d once had, for Rhythm’s sake he hoped Rhyme would at least keep in touch with his mother. All of that was assuming, of course, that her fury didn’t send Rhythm rushing into Abaven’s arms.

Valentine was prepared for the worst. He’d had some time since leaving Rhyme to decide what to say to Rhythm but he was still no closer to a perfect answer. Her mate had disowned her son. There was no softening that fact. He was reminded of a time when Rhythm had nearly left him over a foolish slave. That scenario had played over and over in his head since the day he’d decided what needed to be done with Rhyme. Eventually Valentine had come to terms with the fact that this could very well be the end for them. He’d done his best to make peace with that but in the end, even as he’d walked to Abaven to talk to Rhyme, the thought had disquieted him. She knew what his name meant to him. Knew the extremes he had always been willing to go for his ideals. All he could hope for was that she understood that it wasn’t something he had done flippantly, that he had thought long and hard about the decision and he took no pleasure from it.

After reaching Rhythm’s den Valentine dropped to his elbows beside it and peered inside. He couldn’t see her but he thought she might be in there. ”Rhythm? Are you in there? I have something to tell you.”

Rhythm was not currently in her den when Valentine came to call. With the spring melting away winter ever so slowly the old she wolf took every chance to be out and about. The cold had caused her quite a bit of pain in her joints, especially later in the season. Now that it was no longer freezing most days Rhythm felt pain free and fresh.

She was coincidentally on her way back to the den though. She had a bit of alfalfa in her jaws, only enough for a couple of days. She hadn’t gathered enough before winter set in, and they never preserved well enough to last all winter. They helped with the arthritis though, and with the warmer weather the tincture she made would help her further.

She heard Valentine’s voice as her dainty paws carried her to the den. Rhythm drew near, a smile playing on her features as she lay her gatherings at her feet. ”Telling’ me, huh?” The last time he had sought her out so specifically she’d joined a pack. He also had asked her about that. Rhythm didn’t want to alarm herself, but didn’t have a good feeling. She didn’t know what he was about to reveal, and reached out to nuzzle him affectionately.

Rhythm was in a good mood and Valentine felt a bit guilty for what he was about to do. No doubt he was going to ruin it and that saddened him. Still, he was resolute. Come what may he clung firmly to the belief that he had done what was best for the Imperialis name.

He returned her kiss and then leaned back to study her face, for once not seeing the sightlessness of her eyes. Her smile brightened her features and brought back memories of their younger days. She'd been beautiful then and now, though the years had been unkind to her, her beauty hadn't changed. Valentine made a point to commit her smile to memory; no doubt it was about to disappear.

"Yes," he said with a sigh. "Something has happened that you need to be aware of." How to say this... "Rhyme's recent behavior led me to believe that he is a danger to the Imperialis name. It is for that reason that I have removed the name from him."

He paused, unsure of what to say, then softly said the one thing that came to mind. "I'm sorry." He wasn't sorry for doing it, rather, he was sorry for whatever pain he had just inflicted on Rhythm.

Rhythm leaned into Valentine’s kiss, enjoying the touch before he pulled away and grew quiet. With her ears perked curiously she felt her smile falter as she realized what he had to tell her was not fun and games. She felt her heart speed up in the moments leading up to his next words. The smile disappeared from her features as he said their son’s name. She listened and her heart broke for Rhyme.

Since he had been a pup the boy looked up to his father, he’d wanted so much to grow up to be the man. Fate had a different idea though. She didn’t doubt that one of the few reasons he made it through his captivity was looking to his father, and asking himself what Valentine would do.

”I’m sorry.”

The Destruction almost scoffed like her son had done that night when Valentine had taken his name. Rhythm had more tact than that, and besides her smile faltering she didn’t show any emotion on her face as she turned her face from Valentine to the horizon.

”Right.” Her breath was soft as the word left her lips. She knew he wasn’t sorry for what he’d done, what he did to Rhyme. Somehow she stifled the tears as she wrapped her mind around what her mate had decided. ”I’d like to be alone, Valentine.” Her words were just as quiet and despite the polite wording it wasn’t a request.

As he had predicted Rhythm's smile quickly disappeared. Valentine studied her face for signs for what was about to happen, but was unsuccessful. The most he could get from her was that she was unhappy - and that was a very shallow interpretation, no?

"I'd like to be alone, Valentine." In response to this he nodded once to himself. He understood. This he had expected to happen at some point whether she immediately took off, argued with him first, or the quiet dismissal that was happening now.

Though she couldn't see it, Valentine's expression was resolute. He was unafraid of the consequences no matter what they may be. The old king was nothing if not adaptive and he was confident he could weather any storm. "As you wish," he said softly.

-exit Valentine-