Iām sad I even need to explain this, but ig yall are too dumb and this needs to be said.
The difference between feysand and nessian compared to elucien is that the only reason elucien are forced to be together is because of the mating bond. Itās what connects them in every way.
Feysand, yes Rhys had suspicions ( only knew AFTER he helped save her in the end of acotar) sheās his mate but feyre didnāt know, she chose and fell for him without the bond hanging over her head telling her she needs to give him a chance. And no feyre did want Rhys but her loyalty stopped her from thinking anyway.
Nessien, again yes cas had an INKLING, nesta didnāt know, she was fighting with him the first day she saw him, he made her feel alive. Nesta didnāt have the bond hanging over her head telling her to give cassian a chance, she fell for him organically. And no nesta did want cassian she had her own issues so she pushed him away, not the same thing.
Elucien, the first time elain and Lucien met was the day they both learned they were mates. Elain has had everyone telling her to give Lucien a chance, heās a good man, heās her mate he basically owns her( Grayson), sheās been forced to be in his proximity because heās her mate. It would not be HER organic choice if she ended up with Lucien because sheās always had the bond hanging over her head. The only reason anyone is telling Elain to give Lucien a chance is BECAUSE of the mating bond. Non of yall would ship them if it werenāt for it letās be serious. If elucien had any scene where elain was empowered by Lucien and fought back in some way Iād say there was a chance, that she is like nesta and thatās why sheās ignoring him, but no scene of that anywhere. Elain has had plenty of time to get to know Lucien and she mightāve even talked to him after the war, and all we got from that was she further pushing away from him. She didnāt need to fall inlove with him in the og trilogy but atleast grow a friendship or ANY sort of interest in him which she hasnāt.
Elriel, it seems as tho azriel had an inkling the same as cassian but wtv, elain met azriel and he calmed her, he made her feel comfortable when she just met three dudes with wings and fat muscles. He spoke poetically to her basic question when it wasnāt needed making her interested in flying. Elain and Azriel have slowly become friends, Azriel became the only person to listen to her, to TAKE her to the gardens, believed in her and give her truth-teller, she gave him a gift on her first solstice, and she chose to go for the kiss and ask him to put the necklace she loved sm on her, and Elain was the person Azriel went on a suicide mission for and elain was the person azriel felt comfortable enough around to have his wings splayed infront of her.
Elriel follows the pattern of the guy having an inkling and the girl not knowing, the couple organically falls in love having had a connection from the moment they met and then ending up together.
When elain ends up with the man she chooses not out of some force telling her to but because her heart told her Iāll eat that up with a spoon and have the biggest smile on my faceš©·š
