Deep Roots by Beth Cato

Author:Beth Cato
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2016-08-16T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 5

Lump stared at Rivka, one cheek scrunched against the floor. His round black eyes were lined with severe wrinkles of strain. He was still chained in place in the middle of the circle though now on his opposite side.

“Hi there,” she crooned to Lump as she crept forward. His ears perked up.

She was keenly aware of how Broderick and Tatiana stared. Tension thickened the air. Rivka’s hand quivered as she rubbed Lump’s forehead. Sporadic whiskers poked her. It’d be so easy for him to twist around and bite her.

The purr started like a cabriolet engine. He leaned into her touch. Rivka almost sagged in relief.

“He can purr. I knew it was possible, anatomically, but . . .” Disbelief was clear in Broderick’s voice.

“Silly medicians,” Rivka whispered to Lump. “All that magic, all that power, and they really don’t know what they’re doing, do they?”

Chains rattled as Lump lifted his head off the floor and to her knee level. Broderick yelped a warning. Rivka, stunned, didn’t move back. Lump nuzzled her legs and almost bowled her over. A nervous titter escaped her lips.

“By the Lady, you’re giving me a heart attack,” said Broderick.

“This is your vicious behemoth chimera.” Rivka rubbed Lump’s head and ears. Her hand trailed around the protrusion of Lump’s nose to his catlike mouth, as if she dared him to bite her. He continued to purr.

“Rivka!” Tatiana called. “Can I come over?” She waited at the copper circle.

“I think so. Approach slowly, okay?” She turned to Lump and pressed her head against his. “Tatiana is . . . well, I don’t know if she’s really a friend. She confuses me. But don’t kill her. It would probably upset Miss Leander.”

Lump chirped, the sound positive, his breath appalling.

“Where should I stand?” Tatiana stopped a few feet away, fidgeting.

“Here. Come right up next to me. Gremlins seem to sniff a lot. Don’t worry. I don’t think he’ll bite off your arm.”

“You don’t think so? That’s not very funny!” She squealed as Lump snuffled at her, his black nose leaving a moist trail down the front of her pale dress.

Rivka snorted. “You sound like an air-­raid siren.”

“I need to climb on Lump’s back. Mr. Cody said he’d return. He needs to see that I can do this.” The words were brave even as Tatiana’s voice rattled like a loose turbine.

“What are you trying to prove, really?” Rivka spoke low enough so that Broderick couldn’t hear from where he packed away materials.

“From the time I was young, I looked in awe at mecha pilots, but until Alonzo’s match, I never considered that it was something I could do. I still wasn’t sure if I could do it, then Mr. Cody laughed at me.” Her gaze turned cold. “Now I need to.”

“I wish you had a different need. I don’t want either of you in the Arena.”

“Then stop us before the bout happens. Stop Mr. Cody.” Tatiana stated it as a challenge.

Challenge accepted. “Broderick?” Rivka called. “Can you loosen the chains?”

“I can,

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