Telling Draven

Telling Draven
It was the early hours of the evening and Valerie and Adrian had spent the rest of the afternoon together after they had woken up. 

Adrian had managed to eat a few bites and that was progress for him and Valerie and Valerio knew better than to push him further. 

Valerio had then been busy in the throne room, discussing some matters of the kingdom and Valerie had taken that time to make a short trip down to the dungeons. 

Draven looked up with tired eyes when he sensed her presence. 

"What do you want?" He grumbled.

Valerie looked down at hin with a sorrowful expression as she realized that what she was about to do was going to be painful on both of them. 

"I came here to tell you that your Betas have decided to rule your city together until we decide to release you." She stated, knowing that it was better to start off with a good news.

"And when will that be?" He taunted.

"Whenever we feel like you have learned a lesson to never cross me again." She answered with an unflinching blankness. 

"I want to meet Jasper." Draven rasped.

"Sorry, but that's not possible." She answered, "he left with Kol and Clint for Kymera this morning. I have sent a good amount of my soldiers with them, and Eliard is sendind aid on my command as well. Dragary has a new Alpha, one who is loyal to me, so they are sending a handful of their soldiers too." 

"I thought you disintegrated Dragary." He grumbled, rolling his eyes. 

"Only the ones like Evermond or loyal to him." She informed. This is what she had done ever since she had returned. "There were some who were good and wanted to change the ways of that pack but their voices were never heard or they were imprisoned. I got them to give the mortals proper homes and jobs in the pack, now that Dragary has a lot of empty houses and the mortals wouldn't be able to find a place in the human world." 

"Smart." Draven mumbled.

"There is something else." She whispered.

Draven raised his eyebrow, "what is left to say now?" He asked.

Valerie knew that he deserved to know about the child. And besides, his reaction would help her decide what she needed to do. She hoped that Draven would surprise her this time. "The night that I came back from Eliard..." She muttered, "when we..." 

"When I found out the truth about what a liar and killer you were?" He spat, glaring at her because he felt like she was only there to pour salt in his wound.

Valerie sighed, closing her eyes for a moment as she took in a few deep breaths. 

"No, before that..." She mumbled, "before you found out the truth." He was staring at her with furrowed brows and an angry expression, wanting to know what he wanted, "when you and I...we..."

Draven rolled his eyes, "yeah, I remember. What about it?" He barked rudely.

Valerie finally gathered the courage, "well, that has created a situation..."

"What situation?" He just wanted her to leave him alone. 

She finally met his eyes and with a fearful breath, she said, "I'm pregnant, Draven." Draven's eyes widened, "the child is yours, obviously." She added.

Draven didn't respond for a few moments. He sat frozen in his spot, unable to think or speak about anything. 

Valerie almost felt like he was having a stroke.