QSFer Elliot Cooper has a new MM sci fi book out:
Exiled from his home planet for loving an enemy, Vince turned to space piracy aboard the Cygnus. Disguised as a human thanks to his species’ shifting abilities, Vince feels secure. But he’s not safe from memories of his murdered lifemate—or from a growing attraction to Trent Rolston, the ship’s captain, he feels honor bound to ignore.
Trent, though, is determined to prove to Vince there’s nothing wrong with becoming more than friends. But Vince is surprised by his species’ mating call, despite being deep in space and far from home.
Just as their relationship begins to evolve, the Cygnus comes under attack from hunters determined to destroy Vince and his chosen family.
(Author’s note: this title was previously published under another pseudonym. This version has been heavily updated and includes 5k additional words plus a brand new ending!)
Excerpt
Having a Class Seven spaceship that was once the seldom-used property of a baron wasn’t without its drawbacks. As captain of the Cygnus, Trent Rolston was all too aware of that fact. The gorgeous vessel was fast and had all the amenities necessary for a comfortable journey through the void—plus a few extras—but it was also a glowing white beacon for pirates.
“We’re being boarded!” Reyla’s cheerful voice cut through Trent’s dreams like a knife. He bolted upright in his bunk, swearing loudly.
“Nice work getting those alarms fixed, Reyla!” Trent shouted to the darkened room. It was empty save for his belongings and he knew it. Reyla was Tithan and therefore telepathic and “magically” inclined.
Trent tugged on his pants and boots, then grabbed his pistol and headed out. The main hallway was dimmed to evening lights, which could prove an advantage. He’d be surprised if a random bunch of pirates knew the layout of a Class yacht. His crew, on the other hand, knew the Cygnus perfectly well. It had been home to most of them for the past three years, longer for some, and Trent was intent on keeping the ship in their possession.
He made his way through the eerily quiet ship. The hum of the engines and his own steady breathing were the only things he could hear. That’s odd. A boarding party usually made plenty of noise, even if it was only the horrid scraping of metal against metal as a docking bridge met the hull.
“They’re standing around in the docking bay, Captain. I believe they’re having a meeting. There appear to be six of them, though there could be more on their ship. Winston and Lindi are on their way, but we weren’t able to rouse Vince. Lindi and I have a running bet on whether or not he could sleep through an entire attack!” Reyla’s voice tittered in Trent’s ears again. He sighed. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. They’d need Vince’s help, especially since he was the fastest with a gun. Not to mention five against six were much better odds.
Trent made a snap decision and doubled back. If the pirates were stupid enough not to have thought out their plan before they boarded, Trent wasn’t going to complain. He guessed their mistake would buy him a few extra minutes before they started cavorting about his precious ship.
He didn’t bother trying to knock on the cabin door since Vince was dead asleep. Instead, he did something he hated to do. He popped off the keypad next to the door and hotwired it, remembering the last few times he’d done the same thing. Seconds later, the door slid open.
Author Bio
Elliot Cooper writes speculative fiction featuring queer characters. His novels and novellas come with hopeful and happy endings, though his short fiction runs the gamut of styles and genres. He strives above all to make his readers feel, while also increasing positive representation of LGBTQ characters and their stories.