Captain Vane Novels & Stories

Vane coughed up dark blood, staring up at me with terrified, wide eyes as I stood over him, my silver runes burning with absolute authority. "It's over, Vane," I said, my voice cold as ice. "Your rebellion ends today." Vane let out a desperate, wheezing laugh. "You... you think I'm the mastermind, girl?" He spat blood onto the floor, his trembling finger pointing toward the high balcony overlooking the city harbor. "Look... look at the harbor!" I turned, my heart freezing in my chest. Through the shattered stained-glass windows, out in the middle of the burning royal harbor, a massive, ancient black warship was rising out of the water—a vessel three times the size of Vane's entire Sunfang fl

Why Seraphine had been created. Why the network had responded to her. They hadn't been trying to make Rei a queen. They had been trying to make her a doorway. A living doorway between every Alpha and Omega in existence. And the Origin Protocol was waiting for her. Then a slow clap echoed from the far side of the chamber. Everyone turned. Voss stepped out of the darkness. He wasn't alone. Behind him stood a line of armed Blackthorn soldiers. And beside Voss was a man Rei hadn't seen in years.

He snapped a wrist shot into the top corner of the net so hard the black puck rattled violently inside the twine. Ethan slammed his stick against the plexiglass in celebration, cheering. Damon coasted backward, turning toward the stands to wipe sweat from his brow with his glove. His dark eyes scanned the perimeter until they locked onto me standing by the tunnel. Even from fifty feet away across a crowded ice rink, I saw his entire demeanor shift. The ruthless, cutthroat captain melted away. A tiny, quiet smile touched his lips—a private, subtle look meant entirely for me. My betraying heart gave a sudden, painful flutter. I couldn't help it. I smiled back.

"How dare you insult my guards. They are the finest wolves in Dravon. Well-trained, ruthless, and strong. I handpicked every single one of them myself." "The same people you are bragging about are all dead," Vane said smoothly. "I killed them before we reached the inner gates. I would have loved for you to see the bodies yourself, Alpha, but it is too late for that now. I am going to kill you right here. I gave you the opportunity to hand the girl over and go your way, but you chose to attack me. You have to pay for that with your head." With a single motion, Vane unclasped his collar and tossed his heavy dark cloak to the side, unveiling his true figure.

She held a heavy parchment sealed with a violet wax—the crest of the High Council. "The bird has arrived," Kaelen said, her gaze flickering between Silas and me. "They didn't even wait for the bodies to be buried. Counselor Vane is at the gate. He says he’s here to 'inspect the damage' and offer the Council’s condolences to the Luna." "Condolences," Silas sneered, stepping away from me. He reached for a black silk shirt, pulling it on with jerky, violent movements. "Vane is a vulture. He doesn't offer condolences; he counts the dead to see how much we’ve weakened."

There was some story that I was out of. In the end, Vani was named our Captain. I looked at her for an answer. She smiled at me, as her hand on my shoulder. — When all this is over, I promise to tell you this story. — She said in a playful tone. — What if we don't survive? — I said with all my sincerity, it was a possibility, wasn't it? —One more reason not to die. —She replied before turning away and going in the direction of the general to report our choice.

A shadow came over me, and I looked up in anticipation. The smile froze on my face immediately. The relief I'd felt vanished, replaced by horror. Standing directly in front of me was not Azriel, but Commander Vane. He stood straight, his hands neatly folded behind his back. A small, cold smile bloomed across his face as his green eyes locked onto mine. "A commendable sprint, Seraphina," Vane said, his voice entirely smooth and conversational. He looked very comfortable here. "But I told you before, you really must be more careful."

"We can't go to Aiden with something we're only guessing at." Cole's voice is quiet when he speaks again. "We can't go to Aiden with just a pattern and a name that shows up in old paperwork either. Vane sits on that council. If we're wrong, or if it gets back to him too soon, we lose whatever advantage we have." "So what do we do." Damien asks. “We keep digging. Quietly.” Cole looks around the table at each of us, taking stock. "But we treat Vane as dangerous from now on. Not just old guard. Dangerous."

"They aren't here to save us." The dropships landed. Kicking up a storm of red dust that clogged my throat. Ramps lowered. A battalion of soldiers poured out. They weren't Uruk grunts. These were elite House Guards. Weapons raised—and aimed directly at us. A figure strolled down the center ramp. He wore armor of polished chrome and a cape of blue velvet. General Vane. "Commander Ashfang," Vane called out. His voice smooth and oily. "You look... distressed. Trouble with the locals?"

Panni replied, her golden gaze shifting to the sky. Above them, the Vane fleet descended. Massive iron-clad dirigibles, held aloft by heated gas and humming with internal brass rotors, blocked out the moon. The lead ship, the Aurelius, lowered its docking claws. A platform descended, carrying Alistair Vane. He was bleeding from the clockshop explosion, his silk suit ruined, but his eyes were filled with a terrifying, religious fervor.