#anywhooooooo

… I have is Elain getting so anxious with her impending mating with Lucien that she strikes a deal with the lesser evil—a fake marriage with the Spymaster that ensures her freedom. Azriel, who’s just found out Mor’s truth (aka how he unknowingly made her uncomfortable for 500 years waiting for a mating bond to click), thinks he doesn’t deserve a mate at all and accepts Elain’s deal as some kind of self-imposed punishment (typical Az).

But the marriage is not easy because they’ve gotta deal with the fall out. Because—

One, things have been negatively heated between them since Elain found her necklace on someone else.

Two, Lucien helicopters them 24/7 who’s agreed to not invoke a BD as long as Elain is genuinely happy (aka cue pretending until “the marriage was FAKE?”).

Three, Az is still processing Mor’s confrontation & his self-worth issues.

Four, Rhys steps into High Lord mode with Az for avoiding direct orders & keeps sending him to the Continent for longer missions (hehehehe more Koschei trouble).

And Five, Gwyn turns out to be his mate just when they start yearning again for one another.

AHHHH.

ANYHOW.

I LOVE A GOOD ARRANGED MARRIAGE PLOT. JUST IMAGINE—

“She’s my mate.” Lucien snarls.