Monstrous Hunt (Dynosauros Book 3) by Joely Sue Burkhart

Author:Joely Sue Burkhart [Burkhart, Joely Sue]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joely Sue Burkhart
Published: 2023-11-16T16:00:00+00:00

NATALIE

Axxol’s vitriol stung. Yeah. But I expected nothing more from the man who’d locked me in a cave and left me injured and alone for days. He was a kidnapper. A stalker. Nothing more.

Instead, I focused on the image Rizan had printed out for me. It looked like a typical ultrasound, though it was higher resolution and in color, though the colors were based on a thermal palette thanks to Kroktl’s special vision. The pinkish red organs glowed with energy, but the tiny limbs were cooler purple and blue.

I stroked my finger over the fingers barely more than nubs. “You said limb size wasn’t comparable to a human embryo’s at this stage?”

“The length of both arms and legs is within human bounds,” Snryx said. “But the bones themselves are already denser and thicker than a human baby’s bones would be. The heart is also measuring twenty-seven percent bigger.”

“You can tell from the brighter colors how active the brain is already,” Lohr said.

“Will she be able to join your grid after she’s born?”

The two scientists shared a long look before answering. “Yes,” Snryx finally replied. “That could explain the larger skull size and higher brain waves.”

I looked up at Kroktl. “Is that a problem? Other than the Sirian cells, I mean.”

He kissed my forehead as if he could wipe away the worry creases. “We won’t know the youngling’s capabilities until she’s here. We’ll figure it out when the time comes.”

“You must remember that dyni haven’t been born for millennia,” Snryx added. “We can speculate on how wild dyni might have raised their young but that’s all it would be. Our best guess.”

“In fact, you have much more hands-on experience with nurturing young,” Lohr said. “We will naturally defer to you in all things related to the youngling’s care.”

Kroktl tucked me tighter against him. “You’re the first mother to nurture and birth a dynos in modern history.”

“I don’t want her growing up in a laboratory.” I forced a bright, confident smile, even though my stomach still felt queasy. There was so much I didn’t know or understand, and with the baby developing so quickly, I sure didn’t have much time to figure shit out. Worse, I felt so inferior in all areas, despite Kroktl’s proud words and constant assurance. I couldn’t be on their grid. I couldn’t teach her anything about being dynos. If she could be on their grid, they’d have an intimate, mind-to-mind connection that I would never be a part of.

Maybe it was selfish of me, but that bummed me the fuck out. I wanted to be a part of that intimate circle—even if that meant I had to listen to Axxol’s nonstop bullshit in my head.

“I recommend we monitor the youngling’s brainwaves regularly,” Lohr said. “We have no way of knowing at what stage of development the Sirian cells may activate and attempt connection.”

Rizan grunted softly, nodding to himself. “I set my most sensitive listener to pick up the first hint of a signal so I can block it.

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