Mel

I just wish Lucien had heard it. And seen that half step.

Elain Archeron is not real. Repeat after me.

You are not Elain Archeron.

“You might be my mate,” he said, “but you remain your own person. You decide your fate—your choices. Not me. You chose yesterday. You choose every day. Forever.”

A very Elucien coded dialogue from our resident anti e/riel.

Whether it's nature, or cauldron, or whatever force it is, it doesn't matter, because when Elain chooses Lucien, it will be her own choice. 🌷☀️

Nesta ignored the collective sense of relief that filled the room and pivoted, finding herself peering up at Lucien, who greeted her with a wary dip of his chin. Elain, the wretch, had taken the seat between Feyre and Varian, about as far from Lucien as she could get.

Then Nes goes onto converse with Lucien. A little later in the chapter:

He’d (Cassian) gotten her a present then, too. And she hadn’t cared, had been so wretched she’d wanted to hurt him for it. For caring.

SJM had no need to emphasize Nesta noting Elain sitting apart from Lucien or call her beloved sister a 'wretch' for it. Then in the same chapter, have Nesta think back about how 'wretched' she was with Cassian last Solstice and admit it in her book.

I don't think Elain or Nesta were wretches to their mates as their reluctance or resentment towards the bond was/is understandable, but hey take it up with SJM. She wrote it.

So her calling Elain that is... interesting because it shows disapproval, that while Elain's avoidance is understandable, it not only hurts Lucien but makes even characters like Nesta find it distasteful.

SJM talking about Elain's perspective in interviews where she hints at resentment towards Lucien is 100% valid. What's also valid is having both Nesta and Cassian note Elucien tension in their book.

While Nes thinks Elain's a wretch, Cassian's heart strains at the longing and disappointment on Lucien's face at the Solstice.

Gwyn’s grin just widened.

**

Something sparked in Azriel's chest. He could picture it. How Gwyn's teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face. Buried the image down deep, where it glowed quietly.

A thing of secret lovely beauty.

**

^ Azriel is in the starting stage of talking with Gwyneth-charming-irreverence-Berdara here.

"But he doesn't see her as a friend!"

Wow, if this is how he thinks about Gwyn when she's barely even his friend, then...

"haha elain hates lucien ! azriel will beat him up, he's an ugly rat, elain can't stand him, lucien also said he can't stand to be around her which means he dislikes her! sjm hates lucien, no ginger will get a book—"

After seeing Enemies to lovers, slow burn, fated mates as listed tropes:

"well, HOW does enemies to lovers fit elucien! there's no hate, obviously it's our (checks notes) peppa pig approved um, peace and quiet ship..."

The jokes write themselves atp

“Let him live with his Band of Exiles. Let him deal with Tamlin in his own way. Let him figure out where he wants to be. Who he wants to be. The same goes with her.”

Mor continued, “Just be patient. It’ll sort itself out. It always does.”

Another kernel of truth.

^ This is not something an author would establish if their story was planned to end in doom. It simply reinforces the point that Elucien are strangers to each other, with complicated pasts at that; so, they need to heal first.

"There is a great deal of tension, growth, and healing to be found for both of them (together)" - SJM

Elucien's book is not just going to be plot heavy, but also one that is a long, simmering slow burn with perhaps the most rewarding romantic development between any two characters written by the author yet.

Lucien with Elain:

“Is … is there anything I can get for you?”

I’d never heard my friend’s voice so soft. So tentative and concerned.

***

Lucien inclined his head in a bow, the movement hiding the gleam in his eye—the longing and sadness.

***

My sister rose to her feet. “I should get refreshments.”

Lucien rose as well. “No need to trouble yourself. I’m—”

***

"Lucien,” Elain said at last, and he clenched his teacup to keep from shuddering at the sound of his name on her mouth.

***

Lucien. It was Lucien.

Lucien, haggard and bloody, panting for breath. As if he’d run from the shore. His gaze settled on Elain and he sagged a little.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, coming toward us. Spying the blood speckling Elain’s hands.

***

Bonus:

His own status as a mated male made him uninterested in any sort of female company these days.

“I’m a mated male now.”

"I'm getting my mate back."

You can list every awkward Elucien moment and none of it would rule the ship out. Why? Hate/avoidance/defiance from her FMCs is actually the norm, especially from Archerons trying to defy the mating bond. But you know how she NEVER writes her endgames?

1. Azriel … It was pity on his beautiful face. Pity and sorrow as he watched my sister.

2. Someone had to guard Elain, though I certainly wasn’t about to tell Lucien that. Cassian, swearing and pissy, got the short stick, and Azriel only clapped him on the shoulder before heading up to the House to prepare.

3. Azriel's POV about Elain: "He certainly hadn't thought beyond the fantasies he pleasured himself to."

4. "Why was the third given to another?" -Azriel, speaking about the thir— Elain.

Lol I'd never trade any Elucien moment (be it the sweet, angsty ones or the awkward ones) for any other ship's 'moments' like the above ones that spell doom.

“Do you ever stop being such a prick?” I snapped back.

Dead—really, truly, I should have been dead for that.

But Lucien grinned at me. “Much better.”

Elain Archeron:

“Oh, fuck you,” Nesta snapped, and then choked.

Elain blinked. Nesta blinked back, horror lurching through her.

And then Elain burst out laughing.

Elain held up a hand, wiping her eyes with the other. “You’ve never said such a thing to me!” She laughed again. “I think that’s a good sign, isn’t it?”

Mates for a reason.☀️🌷