Lost in Amber (RELIC #4)

by Maz Maddox

Cowering behind a car in the middle of the desert was not how I was going to die. I had survived the jaws of a rather large tyrannosaur, almost got stepped on by a sauropod many times, was stabbed by a ceratopsian (I was trying to steal an egg, so that was my fault actually), and dropped off a cliff by a hadrosaur in my other life. A band of human bandits was not going to seal my fate.

“So, I heard there’s a ton of really cool dragon statues at some shrines—” “Not stealing dragons, Dalton. What’s second on your list?” “What? Damnit.” He sighed dramatically. “I guess just bring me one of those sex robots then.” “No sex robots!” Simon barked in the background. “But—but, baby, it’s for both of us. We can have an interspecies threesome with a robot! Look at my pouty lip. I’m sad. You’re dashing my fantasy here.”

No, I didn’t go on a lot of dates, but I had a killer collection of beautiful teapots.

You’re not exactly straightforward.” “I have never been straight anything.”

I was told once by a poet that the people you meet are the brushstrokes that paint who you are. Each of them contributes to the picture.”

He cursed and tried to swing at me, and I squawked and slashed at him with my claws. He would fall if he messed with me! I was strong. I was MIGHTY. I would protect Yulong from these stupid humans!

Yes, that’s right, human! I shook my tail again. The strength of my feather control paired with my claws was truly a thing of nightmares. I fought off many rivals in my youth and many more predators from my nests. These humans were nothing compared to a hungry dinosaur trying to snatch up chicks! I always kept my mate safe.

Yulong. My handsome, mighty yutyrannus love. Love. I felt my chest expand, my breath stuck against the beating of my heart. “Oh. Crap,” I said in an exhale. “Is this what swooning feels like?”