6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Renick

"Did you decide yet?" Arik asked.

"No."

"There's some beautiful females up for auction tonight."

"Beauty doesn't make everything," I said. "The next auction begins in four standard hours."

"Are you going to participate in this one?"

"I don't know. I'm going to work out first and see how I feel at the end." Working up a sweat usually brought clarity whenever I needed help making decisions. Stretching my muscles for a workout tended to bring a certain peace and calm to my soul. To add to my errant thoughts, I played news reports of my fathers untimely demise, the grief rolling in waves through my body. I knew I'd not properly taken the time to mourn, and suspected waves of anguish would emerge randomly.

Decision still unmade, I hopped in the shower, sweat dripping from my skin. Being around water was another source of comfort to my bruised soul. Once out of the shower, sitting on my bed, I tapped my mothers communication number into the tablet, thinking I could ask her advice.

When she finally answered the communication, I gasped at the state of my mothers appearance. She looked as if she's aged significantly in the rotations since my father's passing. "Have you slept, Mother?" I asked. Her skin appeared dull, no longer the vibrant blue; the spark fell out of her eyes.

"A little," she said, her voice weary. "There's much to do and your brothers are unable to perform the tasks."

At that moment, staring into the azure eyes of my beloved mother, I decided to give her hope; a reason to keep living. Mates can, and often did, die soon after the other from a broken heart. Almost as if she was adrift, anchorless, in a sea of grief. Ever since I could remember she kept busy with social activities, organizing events for Father raising my siblings and me. She'd done it all - the least I could do is give her hope.

"Renick, you look lost in thought," she said. "Are the weight of your responsibilities finally hitting you?"

"To an extent," I said. "I have further news Mother." Her eyebrows arched and she waited silently for me to continue. "I will not be arriving alone. My bride will be at my side. If you're up to it please begin preparations for our bonding ceremony."