I theoretically enjoy elriel for the breaking the mating bond aspect of it, but the fact that lucien and azriel are basically the same character with the same backstory and position in the plot makes it hugely unimpactful and stupid. Breaking the mating bond should be done for someone very different from the mate (a woman, a human, something taboo and interesting) not the same dude with a different hair colour. And while I agree that this idea of mating bonds being toxic has been brought up again and again it would piss me off to no end if the elucien bond breaks while the horrible terrible disgusting nessian and feysand bonds stay. Everyone should get a divorce and become gay. It's what's right.
Lucien should pull an uno reverse and break the bond and then HE gets to be with Azriel
