I'll Take One Drowned Rat To Go, Please

Rhyme stilled and remained silent for a long time as his kids wandered off a little ways. His eyebrows knit, and he was so focused on how he would explain having the boy and showing up in Legion he hadn’t thought of how bored or restless Tyrian might get. He still had some recovering to do, but it wasn’t really fair that he was left alone with the alpha lost in thought. Not that they remained that way for long, Rhyme didn’t notice the sound of voices but the boy did.

The slate alpha looked up to she Valentine appear to rescue his son. He didn’t know who he got pregnant at his advanced age, but it certainly wasn’t Rhythm. He felt his brows furrow together at the sight of them. Again he felt the raw emotion of loss and rejection and he barely stifled his hackles from raising. He wouldn’t make a scene for the boy. He couldn’t give Valentine anymore ammunition to use against him. Running to his father that night so long ago had been a mistake. He wished he could beat his younger self, but he’d been naive. Would his family still be in such pieces if Valen never knew of the mothers of his grandchildren? Could he have felt the same pride in them that Rhyme did?

Internally he shook himself of wishes and maybes. He wasn’t a part of them anymore. ”Tyrian is as healthy as could be expected after being fished from a river.” He said, ignoring the implied questions. ”Watch him closely for a few days, Moth.. Rhythm will know the dangers to look for.” He had nothing else to say to Valentine, ”be careful, kid.” He added, feeling a strong affection for his younger brother and a deep pain that he couldn’t know him better. ”He wasn’t kidding about that heart attack.” Rhyme didn’t aim to linger after his parting words to the boy.