Book Title: The Fourth State of Matter (Valence Chronicles #1)
Author: D’Arcy Arden
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Cover Artist: Jennifer Greeff
Release Date: May 31, 2021
Genres: Futuristic/Sci-Fi, erotica
Tropes: aliens, polyamory
Themes: BDSM, Gay-Lesbian, Menage/Multi-Partner
Length: 86 889 words/ 349 pages
It is the first book in a series.
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Space is cold, the sex is hot, and the rebellion is right on target.
Blurb
Earth is dead. Humanity survives by selling the only resource available—themselves. 2689 has signed away his rights as a living being and become décor, living artwork that rich aliens use to decorate their homes. It’s a stable existence but a boring one. Until one day his owner plays host to three unexpected guests. Large, loud, and more potent than anything 2689 has ever experienced, this trio of ship-dwellers from the wrong side of the universe awakens a desire he can’t ignore.
However, blissful days of sex and companionship with Brog, Desmodian, and Xavis come to an end when 2689 discovers a plot that could land the trio in jail…or worse. 2689 will have to make a choice—stay silent and allow three innocent lives to be ruined or give up his stable life to protect the ones he loves.
Book Trailer The Fourth State of Matter book trailer – YouTube
They pressed on through the Iota Cloud by following the wake of the nimbus glaukos. Long orange fins swept in front of the window as one of them drifted close to the ship.
Because of the cloud around them, Pet couldn’t see all of the creature at one time. The fin disappeared into the white to be replaced with an eye larger than he was tall. It rolled like its own little planet with galaxies swimming in its pupil. For a moment it seemed to look at him.
The first warning of danger came when a sudden stillness fell over the nimbus glaukos.
Its fins hung limp within the mist like flags on a windless day. Then, all at once, it turned and disappeared into the cloud.
“What happened?”
Desmodian sat up from his observant slouch. “Pet, come away from the window.”
Pet went to join the Dhen’in at his seat, but Desmodian pushed him toward Xavis.
“Look after him.”
Xavis didn’t argue with the command. He just nodded and wrapped an arm around Pet’s waist.
Lights flooded the window.
Pet blinked through the glare. Oh, those were spotlights from another ship. Static burst through their speakers, loud enough to make his teeth vibrate in his head. He covered his ears and didn’t uncover them until Xavis adjusted the settings. The static became an unrecognizable language.
Or at least unrecognizable to him.
For Desmodian, however, it seemed this was not the case. “They want us to surrender.”
How could anyone understand such a language? It sounded like someone striking a drum while leaning too heavily on a synthesizer.
From the corner Nauzeia stepped forward until she stood almost equal with Desmodian’s place at the controls. “Who are they?”
More unfriendly noise issued from the speaker, nearly drowning out Desmodian’s simple but devastating answer.
“Poachers.”
Vige had warned them back at The Gravity Well. Poachers roamed the Iota Cloud hunting nimbus glaukos. They would love to get their hands on décor. There would be no shortage of questionable buyers willing to pay a high price for him. He shuddered and clung to Xavis. Hopefully his trio knew what they were doing.
Something clanged against the hull of the ship, sending a vibration through the floor. A seldom-used screen started beeping from Brog’s portion of the controls.
“They’ve put a magnetic lock on us. We’re not goin’ anywhere.”
“We’re going to open the side airlock.” Desmodian was already pressing buttons on the console to start the process.
Nauzeia crowded him at the controls as if she meant to slap his hands away. “That’s as good as inviting them onboard.”
Desmodian stopped and leaned back in his chair. “Most poachers come from the Partition system. Their electronegative pulse weapons are no joke. These people will be coming on board, and we would prefer they don’t punch a hole through our ship in the process.”
Another bang against the hull, this one louder than before.
Brog’s fists clenched and unclenched in the silence that followed. “They’re on board.”
Desmodian stood and brushed past Nauzeia. “Open the doors from there to here. Let’s make room for our guests.”
His trio vacated their controls and pushed the furniture as far to the side as the tracks allowed. This left the center of the room a desert of empty space.
Xavis stayed with Pet at the side of the room, letting him cling to his arm. “I should warn you. The Sclersy from the Partition system are…very large.”
Pet sighed. “Of course. You know, for once I’d like to find a species smaller than me. Just to balance things out.”
“They exist. Though they tend to keep out of trouble. There’s this race of sentient slugs, no taller than your ankles. They get around in motorized wheelchairs. We’ll go visit them after this. You’ll feel like a giant.”
A wing brushed Pet’s shoulder and he calmed down. “Thanks.” Getting through their current ordeal seemed much more certain with future plans waiting for them.
D’Arcy Arden grew up in Akron, Ohio, where she attended creative art schools and was surrounded by beautiful country landscape. This combination cultivated an interest in literature, art, and the natural world around her. In college, she earned a Masters Degree in Fiction Writing, which primarily taught her that there is no one way to tell a good story. So, she turned around and went back for a degree in Animation as well. This love for both visual and written stories has given her a preference for stories that are memorable, easy to picture, and, most importantly, fun.
That was her main goal when she started writing The Fourth State of Matter—to provide readers with a fun story featuring the three S’s. Science, sex, and spaceships. It is her first published novel, but only the beginning of a great adventure.
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