Elucien supporter here, but I’m starting to have some doubts after my reread
I’m 100% an Elucien supporter, but over the past few days I’ve been doing a massive reread of the series in anticipation of the new book coming out in October, and I’ve started noticing a few things that, honestly, are making me a little uneasy and raising some questions.
For example, Elain’s reaction to Lucien’s gift. When he gave her those enchanted gardening gloves so she wouldn’t hurt herself while gardening, if I remember correctly, there’s a little observation about how she might not have fully appreciated the gift because perhaps she actually likes getting her hands dirty. And then, of course, we have her much more positive reaction to Azriel’s necklace. There’s also that scene where Lucien is worried about Elain and wonders whether they should do something to help her, and Azriel steps in and says that she doesn’t need anything. Honestly, I’m not really sure how to interpret that scene, whether it is meant to favor one of them over the other.
But I also remember Lucien telling Nesta and Feyre that they should take Elain outside, even if it was only for a few hours a day. And, as we later see, Elain actually does seem to improve the more time she spends outdoors and gardening. So that part has always stuck with me as well.
There’s also the fact that Feyre repeatedly questions Elain and Lucien’s mating bond when talking to Rhysand, wondering whether a mating bond can actually be rejected or not.
And, at least in the books, Elain and Azriel’s interactions have been much more openly positive from the beginning of the series, whereas there’s this tension and awkwardness (which is understandable) surrounding Elain and Lucien.
BUT then I start wondering: if Elain actually ends up with Azriel, where does that leave the plot?
Objectively speaking, Lucien and Elain’s storylines intersect so well. There are already so many existing threads connecting them. With Azriel, on the other hand, I honestly don’t see where or how their stories would naturally come together on a larger plot level. SJM would have to reshuffle quite a lot of things to make it work, lol.
And, personally, I also think pairing the three sisters with the three bat boys would be an incredibly predictable and, honestly, somewhat boring choice. It is literally what everyone would expect. It would feel almost too neat.
And then there’s Lucien.
Let’s say Elain does end up with Azriel. Lucien would be left even more isolated, and he’d potentially have to suffer yet another huge emotional blow. Rhysand himself points out that even if someone rejects a mating bond, it doesn’t simply disappear completely. And if rejecting it is possible, that would still be yet another devastating loss for Lucien.
Honestly, I’m just tired of watching this poor boy get mistreated, mocked, and kicked while he’s down since the very first book. 😭 At this point I just want some justice for my fox.
It would also feel extremely strange to me that, despite the Cauldron seemingly favoring Elain even more than Nesta, her mating bond would ultimately turn out to be with the “wrong” person.
And, of course, we can’t ignore the ACOSF bonus chapter. To me, it is pretty clear that SJM, through her writing but especially through Rhysand (a character we all know she absolutely adores), deliberately redirected both Elain and Azriel away from where they were heading and toward what seems to be the “right” path.
Then there’s the question of: if Elain does end up with Azriel, what happens to Lucien?
I genuinely cannot see him ending up with Vassa. To me, the books have made it pretty clear that there is something going on between Vassa and Jurian. So where does that leave Lucien? At the moment, I can’t think of another character who makes sense for him.
There’s also the fact that SJM has been emphasizing the possibility of accepting or rejecting a mating bond, and I honestly don’t know how to interpret that, considering that this was her answer to a direct question about Lucien and Elain.
I mean, it would feel kind of strange to me if she brought up the possibility of rejecting a mating bond in response to a question specifically about them, only for the next book to reveal that Elain actually did reject Lucien. At that point, she would have basically spoiled the outcome before the book even came out, and that doesn’t really seem like her modus operandi, especially considering how careful she usually is about spoilers.
Personally, I actually suspect that the whole “rejecting a mating bond” thing might end up being connected to the Autumn Court lady situation, or perhaps to another pair entirely, Mor and Eris, who knows? Maybe there will be a rejected mating bond in the next books, but it won’t be between the characters we all immediately assume it will be.
In other words, I wouldn’t be surprised if SJM is deliberately drawing our attention toward the most obvious possibility precisely because that’s not where she’s actually going with it.
Finally, I also think there is a lot of symbolism between Elain and Lucien, from their names to their possible connection to the Day Court and the Spring Court, the main plot, and so on...
Whereas, frankly, I don't see similar connections between Elain and Azriel, who seem to have very little, if anything, in common.
Maybe SJM has a completely different plan and will somehow make everything click. I’ll obviously wait until I’ve read the books before making any final judgments.
For now, though, all we can do is speculate and wait. 🥶