“What if I tell you what the rock and darkness and sea beyond whispered to me, Lord of Bloodshed? How they shuddered in fear, on that island across the sea. How they trembled when she emerged. She took something — something precious. She ripped it out with her teeth.

What did you wake that day in Hybern, Prince of Bastards?“

Lowkey super happy with how I’ve improved as an artist and after rereading the acotar series for like the 5th time, I decided to draw my favorite Illyrian! Hope you guys like it too! :)

SIGNAL BOOST THIS SHIT

@sncinder @rhysand-vs-rowan @rhysanoodle

Umm thankyou for tagging me this is stunning! 😍😍😍

Cassian sketch based off this post by @nessiansmut @catastrophicallyinlovewithbooks :) :) <3

IT’S FINISHED!! 

Cassian chasing down the commander <3 

I wanted to spend some more time on the background but I literally have no time left as I have lots of other work to do - may come back to it at a later date …

I have two monitors that I work on - my laptop screen and then a much bigger screen to the side which is where I do all of my painting and both seem to be calibrated differently! I think my big screen is correct but apologies if you are looking at this on a phone or a laptop and the contrast seems a little off. 

Character copyright of Sarah J Maas

Illyrian fighting leathers inspired by Charlie Bowater’s design. 

HooOOOO BOY

And Cassian too, because why not? :)

Cas saving Feyre and getting his friend back after months of not seeing her

Didn't know I needed this but hOOOO BOY DID I

And No.3 - Cassian. Always looked like a pirate in my head for some reason, so really wanted that rough around the edges look for the guy in these, and gosh but Illyrian tattoos are fun to draw!

one of the best parts of acowar was when cassian mentioned that he and rhysand “trained plenty of younglings” as in CASSIAN TRAINED LITTLE BABY BATS HOW TO FLY. my ovaries are gone.

Cassian looked down when he felt a tug on his fighting leathers. He peeled his eyes away from Rhys, who was currently telling the young Illyrians how to balance the weight of their wings on their back. Most of them still had their arms out, but Rhys had a pleasant, patient smile on his face, laughing softly. “You don’t need your arms,” He tried to explain.

The tugging came again and Cassian looked down at the little girl, her wings dragging on the ground behind her. She had a bruise on the side of her face and for a second - a small, quick second - Cassian wondered if it was a bruise from a fist. But when he peered closer, the bruise merely looked like she had fallen to the ground a bit too hard.

Cassian let out a breath of relief.

“Ian,” The little girl mumbled, trying to get his attention. Cassian laughed and he slowly kneeled down, one knee in front of the other, until he was on the ground, sitting back on his thighs. “Ar-Armos is making fun of me,” She whispered, keeping her voice down.

Cassian looked over at Rhys, his eyes finding the little boy to who she was referring. Cassian pursed his lips and he swallowed his laugh when Drusilla mocked the expression, crossing her arms. “Come on, Silla,” Cassian said at last, getting up. 

Drusilla took his hand, walking back over to the young boys and girls. She extended her chin high, nose out when they walked past Armos, and Cassian didn’t miss the skip in her step. 

Rhys shook his head, giving Cassian a look that said, Find a new friend? She acts like you. 

Cassian shot him a look back, Leave Silla alone, you prick. 

Rhys gave him two thumbs up and a mocking look and Cassian struggled to hold back his vulgar gesture. There were children around after all. He looked down at Drusilla, her hair falling into her face. Cassian bent down again, tying it up for her with a strap of leather (which belonged to him), her cheeks reddening. 

“Let’s give Armos something else to make fun of, Silla”

“Okay, Ian” Drusilla grinned. Cassian bopped her nose, before holding out his arm. She grabbed on, settling herself against his side, her wings pulling it. “Three,” She muttered, squeezing those big brown eyes shut, “Two one!” 

Drusilla shouted as Cassian shot into the air slowly and she laughed against his side, her small palms pressed against her eyelids. Cassian stopped about twenty feet above the ground, flaring his wings wide. “Open your eyes, Drusilla”

She did as she was told and shrieked, clinging onto his leathers, looking down at the ground. Other younglings had gathered around Rhys; pointing, gasping, whispering amongst themselves. 

Drusilla spotted Armos and she leaned forward, sticking her tongue out. Armos scowled and she giggled, settling back against Cassian’s side as Cassian flew around in circles, before landing back on the ground with a thick thump. 

He put Drusilla down and her peers immediately swarmed her, laughing, touching her, as if just by being touched by Cassian she was some kind of saint. Drusilla’s brown cheeks reddened again and Cassian smiled, hanging back with Rhys. 

“That little girl is in love with you,” Rhys purred, leaning his shoulder against Cassian’s, watching the children. Cassian laughed and knocked his shoulder against his brother’s.

“Well who wouldn’t be?” Rhys punched his arm in reply and Cassian pouted, rubbing the sore spot before they both went back to teaching the Illyrians how to fly. And Rhys was right; Drusilla was never far from Cassian’s side. 

Good motherfucking BYE

• Commander of the Night Court’s armies

“And he laughs about it, but he believes he’s a low-born bastard, not worthy of his rank or life here. He has no idea that he’s worth more than any male I met in that court - and outside of it.”

(other edits)