Alrighty, here's your last tasty morsel to get you ready for what's to come.

Devlon simply began to scour the group again, eyes narrowed as he took in the faces of the five camp lords around him. The mistrust he had was written clearly across his face as he hung around the outskirts of the group. “I don’t trust this, Cassian. When you said you’d be coming, I didn’t expect anyone else to turn up. This seems,” Devlon’s speech trailed off as his words became softer. “I don’t know what it seems like, but I don’t think this will end well.”  Cassian clapped him on the back as he spoke, voice still full of the joviality and mocking that he could find in any circumstance. “Well, if it goes poorly, that’s why you’re here. You’ve never failed to get me out of a jam before.”  Devlon let a small smirk grow on his face as he said with mock severity, “yeah, well, getting you three demons through the blood rite alive nearly killed me.”  Cassian laughed with the male for a moment before he continued, tone more serious than before. “Dev, I don’t think you’re capable of letting me down. You and I discussed the stakes. Cauldron, Nesta and I nearly debated to death over it. This is how I can make a difference. Let them know I don’t think I’m above them, that I want to work with them and not just order them around like pawns.” Cassian’s voice changed from confident and convicted to something smaller, hopeful and yet not. “I have to try. I don’t know what else to do, progress has grown stagnant. It’s just a drink. Illyria needs this.”

If you know anything about me, it's that patience is not my strong suit. So here you are, snippet #2 of this project.

“Relax Nes,” Cassian said as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist as he met her gaze in the mirror in front of them. “Everything is going to be great. You’ll see. This is the next big step forward.” Nesta allowed her body to settle into his hold as his wings wrapped around them. She felt safer here, cocooned within the web of tendons and veins, analyzing the beautiful patchwork that had pieced his broken body back together more times than she cared to remember. But each time, he returned to her.  “Fly me to the female’s celebration before you go?” Nesta asked, a slight tinge of fear at the edge of her words, though she tried to keep it contained.  “I’m sorry sweetheart, I can’t.” Cassian said as he shuffled into his boots, chronically late as per usual. “I’ll take you flying tomorrow okay? We can go out to the mountains and get away from it all for a while.” As he spoke, he smiled down at Nesta, voice full of reassurance. Cassian brushed a loose strand of hair off her face and tenderly placed it back where it belonged in her braid. His words and action were a promise for the two of them, that tomorrow would come and they would take flight.

to begin introducing my first large project of 2024. For now, the project will be referred to as TTBW.

I'll be presenting this project slowly, using a few select snippets before I post the project title, and eventually the first chapter. Buckle up, kids. We are in for it.

Without further ado, TTBW snippet 1:

“Does that mean I get to fly all by my own next time?” Nyx said excitedly. Cassian chuckled as he responded. “Not so fast, big guy. Before our next lesson I want you to work on your wing flaps for me. We need to make sure your muscles are big and strong so they can support you without my help okay?”  Nyx looked down at his feet, a defeated look on his face leaving his bottom lip slightly wobbly. Cassian used his free hand to tilt his nephew’s gaze back up to meet his. “Hey, don’t get upset. You’re doing so well! Only a few more lessons okay? And then you and I can fly over the river together but separate, I promise.”  The young boy, so small and new to life, perked up a bit at that as he responded. “You’ll take me first right? Don’t tell my dad but your lessons are my favorite. I want to fly together but separate with you first.”  Those damn emotions hit Cassian again at his nephew’s words and he swallowed back more tears. “I promise Nyx, the first time you’re ready to fly without one of us holding you, I’ll be the one to take you.”