u/darklygrey

A lot of the discourse over the POVs of the upcoming books has been tied to ships.

Well, I don't really give nearly as much of a shit about ships as I do about the story.

There are several reasons to be in favor of multi-povs without bringing ships into it. I thought it might be interesting to discuss because I have seen at least some people from every ship thinking that might be the case.

We have to look at the Call Her Daddy podcast.

Note: This is a transcript I made myself with every effort to keep it as close to the audio as possible. I have made changes such as breaking up run-on sentences or removing some of the "likes" for the sake of clarity, but the meaning should be retained. Any emphasis is mine.

The next three books are "one book":

>And then I realized it was going to be four parts, a book told in four parts.

>So, it's basically it would be like three physical volumes, but it's like one thing altogether.

>So, it's meant to be read ideally as like one massive, massive story as opposed to like a trilogy. It’s not a trilogy.

Something about the POV(s) suprised SJM:

>Q: You can't tell us whose POV it's from? 
A: Um, no. And that was one of the, like, surprising things for me in like, writing this and what came out.

I'm going to be blunt and say this: Elain is getting a POV, and probably the main one/a major one. Anyone who thinks otherwise... I'm not really sure what your thought process is there. It's time. Past time, in fact.

Given that Elain getting a POV is arguably so painfully obvious, I'm curious what was it that surprised SJM?

She also says that the way the story "came out of her" was surprising, but it felt right:

>The story that was finally ready to come out of me was big. Really, really, really big. And as I started writing this in like this Montana energy vortex, like, it came out of me in a way that surprised me.

>But like what I was writing felt right. Like that was what the story that needed to be told.

The story she ended up with was "really, really, really big". And with so many plots up in the air, assuming ACOTAR 8 is the last book (don't know if this is confirmed), that makes sense. We're going to need a lot of pages to cover it all.

Some things I thought were interesting potential hints about what we might see:

>Q: What is the King of Hybern’s actual name? 
A: Fred. Frank. Frank. I don't–
Q: Actually yeah because–
A: That actually might be something that…
Q:We could find out–
A: That is discussed. 

So, we're possibly revisiting something about the King of Hybern, including finding out his name? Is this a Valg-related King of Adarlan situation? Sus...

>Q: Okay. How do fae get into the House of Wind, because they don't have wings? Like, do they climb the stairs? 
A: This might be something that you find out.

I don't know that this points to anything specific, other than the fact that the HoW will be there at some point.

>Q: Okay. What are Mor's powers?
A: Like, truth? 
Q: Truth. 
A: But you like have other powers beyond that. But I don't– I'm not going to reveal any more about– there might be more about that! Who knows?

Mor's powers, hopefully. I know I'm dying for an explanation.

>Q: Okay. Can you tell us anything about the Dusk Court, and are you going to explore any of it in your next book? 
A; Yeah, but you have to know– Like, what do you want me to say, Alex? What do you want me to say here? 
Q: I love you. 
A: What do you want me to say?

I think this is a good indication we'll interact with the Dusk Court. Obviously, we learn a lot about the Dusk Court in HOFAS, and the crossover is the most "recent" version of Prythian we've seen. And a whole missing court either awakened or waiting to be. So, again, that makes sense that we'll talk about it.

>Q: Okay, how did the Book of Breathings and The Walking Dead end up in Jesiba's library?
A: I don't know, you'll have to stay tuned for answers.

Now that we know the worlds crossover, it explains the mechanism of how the books could be in Lunathion. But addressing this would bring the crossover into the ACOTAR series specifically. Even if only briefly.

>Q: There are a lot of theories that Rhys and Ruhn are related. Can you confirm or deny? 
A: *hesitates*
Q: You're like “fuck off!”. You can say fuck off.
A: I'm not saying that, I like you, i'm not going to–
Q: Okay, fair, fair. Is Maeve related to any of them?
A: I mean, what-- I feel like I should just hand over my notebooks to you and you can like comb through them for like all the little notes that I've made.

We know Rhys and Ruhn are related, through both being descendants of Theia, via Silene and Helena respectively. But, given that it's been 15,000 years... even if you say fae live 1000 years... that's a lot of generations to have so strong of a resemblance. It's less clear if we will find out if Maeve is related to them, but her tone (see the video 1:42:56 to 1:43:06) felt evasive to me. Obviously up to interpretation.

Anways, all this to say, we have the obvious big plots...

-Koschei: The biggest thread I can see right now. He's been teased since ACOWAR. It's time for the edging to stop.

-Vassa and the remaining Human Queens: Given how big Briallyn was in ACOSF, I wouldn't be surprised if the Queens are sort of "mini-bosses" on our way to Koschei.

-Ramiel: What are they hiding down there???

-The Autumn Court: Both through Beron's alliance with Briallyn and Eris's alliance with the Night Court, this is in need of some resolution. I think Eris taking over would be a good pre-Koschei confrontation event.

-The Dusk Court: I don't even know where to start with this. The court itself, the crossover fallout, Gwydion...

-Vallahan: What do Mor be doing over there?

None of those are super character-specific. They can all be addressed without regard to ships.

We also have more character-specific plots (not an exhaustive list):

-Elain's Seer abilities are the most obvious

-Nesta's connection to the 8-pointed star

-Lucien's parentage and the Helion/LoA/Beron situation

-Azriel's connection to Gwydion via Truth-Teller

-The Valkyries had a lot of build-up for it all to "end" with the Blood Rite

-The concept of the Elucien bond and its ramifications (needs to be addressed regardless of endgame ships)

I could go on, but the point is...

The story has gotten too big for a dual-POV to do it justice.

And I mean any dual-POV. Elain and Azriel. Elain and Lucien. Gwyn and Azriel. Frickin' I don't know... Clotho and Balthazar. Any dual-POV limits the impact of a lot of these plots. Yes, Elain is a Seer and could theoretically be connected to any plot at any time. But using her visions like a deus ex machina to get her involved in a plot feels... inorganic. And yes, Elain could simply be told by characters already involved in said plots. But again, inorganic.

The story COULD be told through dual-POV, but is that the best choice, narratively?

As I said at the beginning (a million years ago by now), I care more for the quality of the story overall than who ends up with whom. And I feel that quality is best served with multi-POV.

Imagine the TOG plot, from HoF onward, being in exclusively Aelin and Rowan's POVs:

-Literally who is Manon? She just shows up in Queen of Shadows with absolutely zero context.

-No idea what is happening back in Adarlan with Dorian's powers and eventual possession, Chaol's internal struggles.

-No knowledge of Aedion and his secret work on Terrasen's behalf.

I won't go into specifics, but also imagine CC from ONLY Bryce and Hunt's perspectives.

The story would get told, but the reader's perspective and understanding of the story would be extremely inhibited.

It has nothing to do with if I think Elain COULD carry all three books, because I definitely think she could. I think her story will be the most complex and interesting we've seen so far. But SHOULD she carry all three books? I think it would be doing the overall story a disservice. Will she just be running around from place to place, even crossing the sea, so that we can address all of these plots from within her POV?

Elain WILL get her story regardless.

I don't think that anyone would say that Crescent City isn't Bryce's story because of the multi-POVs, or that Throne of Glass isn't Aelin's story. Hoping for multi-POV in the upcoming books isn't about trying to take away Elain's story. It's about experiencing Elain's story in a greater context, in a way that gives the overall story room to breathe.

And obviously, nothing about this post changes the fact that the books are already written, in whatever POV(s) they will be. But it felt nice to point out that wanting multi-POVs goes beyond ships.

I have multiple questions for y'all:

Who is/are your favorite ship(s)?

If your ship's endgame is still unconfirmed (Elriel/Elucien/Gwynriel/etc), how would you feel if the endgame was your ship as *part* of a throuple? Like Elain/Lucien/Azriel or whatever combo.

If you could build-your-own throuple of any three characters within any given SJM series, who would you pick?

If you could build one throuple of three characters *across* any of the three series, who would you pick?

Obviously, I'm a "Why choose?" fan, and just curious how people feel about it in regards to the Maasverse lol

(Before the "Bryceriel propaganda" accusations roll in, I am a card-carrying Quinlar. I'm just not delusional about what's on the page. This isn't a ship post.)

"Who is going to awaken the Dusk Court?"

Let me introduce you to my friend, Bryce Adelaide Quinlan. 

“I think it’s what the Prison—the island in the Fae’s home world—once was. When Theia ruled it, I mean. Before Silene fucked it all up. Maybe they’re linked in some way through being thin places and spilled over to each other a bit. Maybe back in that other world … maybe I woke up the land around the Prison, too.”

"Who is going to wield Gwydion?"

Let me introduce you to my friend, Bryce Adelaide Quinlan. 

“That sword belongs to Theia’s female heir."  ---Aidas.

“Who is going to be High King/Queen?”

I don't know if she's interested, but let me introduce you to my friend, Bryce Adelaide Quinlan. 

*"I don’t know. The Fae ancestor whose powers I bear, Theia—she was Starborn. Like me.” “That term means nothing here.” Nesta pulled Bryce to her feet with ease. “But Amren told me what you said of Theia, the queen who went to your world from ours.” Bryce brushed the dust and rock off her back, her ass. Her ego. “My ancestor, yes.” “*Theia was High Queen of these lands. Before she left,” Nesta said. “She was?” A powerful ruler here as well as in Midgard. Her ancestor had been High Queen. Bryce carried not only Theia’s starlight—she carried her royal ties to this world.

Not to mention, with the post-Wall state of things between fae and humans, a half-fae/half-human isn't a terrible option.

And, if I must nominate an alternate candidate, let me introduce you to my other friend, Nesta BadBitch Archeron. (She needed a middle name for the bit.)

But Bryce began backing toward the portal, taking Hunt’s hand, and smiled again at the female, at her mate, at their world, as the Northern Rift began to close. “I think that eight-pointed star was tattooed on you for a reason. Take that sword and go figure out why*.”*

Even if you don't want to read Crescent City, what is the resistance to recognizing Bryce's relevance to these plots? Elain and Gwyn both have SO MANY good plot opportunities! Why are you trying to give them secondhand plots that another ACOTAR character (two if you count Azriel) have already been associated with?

And I'm not saying Elain and Gwyn won't have anything to do with Gwydion or Dusk. Elain is Made, she could theoretically wield Gwydion, sure! And Gwyn has some dusk-related hints associated with her.

I truly, truly adore both Elain and Gwyn. I am excited to see where their stories go. But I don't want their plots to be the narrative equivalent of "We have Bryce Quinlan at home."!

It's a multi-shipper, come back to stir the pot. My favorite thing to do with opposing ships is to see the common arguments one ship has against another, and point out things that contradict them.

My last post was "pro-Elriel", discussing a common Elucien argument that Elriel couldn't happen because most of their build-up already happened. People on both sides brought out interesting arguments.

This one is more pro-Elucien, and I'm curious to see what people have to say.

The claim:

"Lucien being able to spend so much time away from Elain means that he isn't interested in the mating bond either."

First, I'd prefer if it gets cleared up whether or not Lucien spends too much or too little time around Elain, because I've also seen Elriels say Lucien is around her too much and being pushy.

My comparisons: I'm focusing primarily on the males avoiding the females, since Lucien's avoidance of Elain is the topic, not vice-versa.

Nessian:

Cassian avoided Nesta after the final battle against Hybern:

>And now that she was High Fae, all inherent dominance and aggression—and piss-poor attitude—he avoided her as much as possible. Especially with what had happened during and after the war against Hybern. She’d made her feelings about him more than clear.

Cassian avoided Nesta, especially after the barge party:

>Since Winter Solstice, they’d exchanged only a handful of words. Most had been at the barge party last month. They’d consisted of: Move. Hello, Nes. Move. Gladly. After months and months of nothing, of barely seeing her at all, that had been it.

So, Cassian and Nesta are able to avoid each other for months.

Feysand: Rhysand stayed away from Feyre, both when she was human, and when she was fae. Their/Rhys's avoidance is more painted as out of love and protection, but he stays away from here nonetheless.

He leaves her after finding her on Calanmai.

>"I didn’t want to know why you were in Prythian; I didn’t even want to know your name. Because seeing you in my dreams had been one thing, but in person … Right then, deep down, I think I knew what you were. And I didn’t let myself admit it, because if there was the slightest chance that you were my mate … They would have done such unspeakable things to you, Feyre. “So I let you walk away."

He leaves her after finding her again at Tamlin's manor.

>I" had your mind in my hands, and you had the defiance and foresight to lie to my face. So I walked away from you again. I vomited my guts up as soon as I left.”

He stays away for three months after UtM.

>"And for three months … for three months I tried to convince myself that you were better off without me. I tried to convince myself that everything I’d done had made you hate me."

Specifically, he stays away because he wanted to let her be (what he believed) was happy:

>"I heard you were going to marry him, and I told myself you were happy. I should let you be happy, even if it killed me. Even if you were my mate, you’d earned that happiness."

And now, Elucien:

When Lucien returns from the Continent, he goes back to Velaris at Elain's (albeit encouraged by Feyre) offer:

>“So where now? Off with Vassa?” I wondered if he’d heard of Tamlin’s role—the help he’d given us. A look at my friend showed me he had. Someone, perhaps my mate, had informed him. Lucien shrugged. “First—here. To help. Then …” Another glance at Elain. “Who knows?” I nudged Elain, who blinked at me, then blurted, “You could come to Velaris.” He saw all of it, but nodded graciously. “It would be my pleasure.”

After visiting (and getting kicked out of) the Spring Court, he gets an apartment in Velaris, from which he comes and goes.

>Lucien, at least, had taken up residence in an elegant apartment down by the river the day after he’d returned from the battlefields. And the Spring Court. I hadn’t asked Lucien any questions about that visit—to Tamlin. Lucien hadn’t explained the black eye and cut lip, either. He’d only asked Rhys and me if we knew of a place to stay in Velaris, since he did not wish to inconvenience us further by staying at the town house, and did not wish to be isolated at the House of Wind. He hadn’t mentioned Elain, or his proximity to her. Elain had not asked him to stay, or to go. And whether she cared about the bruises on his face, she certainly hadn’t let on. But Lucien had remained, and found ways to keep busy, often gone for days or weeks at a time.

Later in ACOFAS, during an awkward visit with Feyre and Elain, he says he spends most of his time with the Band of Exiles.

>“I’ve been at the Spring Court every now and then. But if I’m not here in Velaris, I’ve mostly been staying with Jurian. And Vassa.”

He and Feyre also talk about the state of his and Elain's "relationship".

>"Give her time to accept it.” “To accept a life shackled to me?” My nostrils flared. “That’s not what I meant.” “She wants nothing to do with me.” “Would you, if your positions were reversed?” He didn’t answer. I tried, “After Solstice wraps up, why don’t you come stay for a week or two? Not in your apartment, I mean. Here, at the town house.” “And do what?” “Spend time with her.” “I don’t think she’ll tolerate two minutes alone with me, so forget about two weeks.” His jaw worked as he studied the fire.

>“I can’t stand to be in the same room as her for more than two minutes."

Then, in ACOSF, we get this:

>“Why are you here?” Cassian asked, unable to help the sharpness. “Where’s Elain?” “I am not always in this city to see my mate.” The last two words dripped with discomfort.

And this is how we're left off with Elucien, as far as Lucien's behavior is concerned:

>Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen.

And so, we see that mates CAN avoid/stay away from their mates, for months at a time, and still want them.

Why would Lucien's avoidance of Elain mean that he has no interest in her?

I've been seeing a lot of discourse today between Elriels and Gwynriels regarding theories about Elain vs Gwyn ending up as the High Lady of the Dusk Court.

I haven't seen much of the Gwynriel side of the theory, but from what I gather, the Elriel side of the theory seems to point to Elain being the one who will awaken the island where the Prison is, restoring it to the former glory of the Dusk Court.

I feel like I may be missing something, however. This storyline belongs to Bryce.

Most plainly put: 

>“This place, this Prison and the court it had once been, was Bryce’s inheritance. Hers to command, as Silene had commanded it.” (HOFAS 23)

But for the sake of thoroughness (as well as because I'm a masochist and I enjoy doing this), I'll break it down further:

The imagery tying Bryce to Dusk even starts as early and inconsequentially as her nail color in HOEAB: 

>Hunt glanced down at their hands, her dusk-painted nails contrasting with the deep gold of his skin. (HOEAB 35)

Night blooming purple flowers bloom for her, both in HOEAB and HOFAS, as remarked by Hunt:

>Tendrils of night-blooming purple flowers unfurled around her in answer, despite the daylight. Had it always been leading toward this? In the night garden, before they were attacked by the kristallos all those months ago, he could have sworn the flowers had opened for her. Were they sensing this power, the dusk-born heritage in her veins? (HOFAS 65)

Then, in the HOEAB epilogue, we learn that Bryce is the heir of Theia, the last Starborn Queen, and that she bears Theia’s starlight in a conversation between Jesiba and Aidas:

>“I thought Theia’s light was forever extinguished.” “So did I. I thought they’d made sure she and her power died on that last battlefield under Prince Pelias’s blade.” His eyes glowed with ancient rage. “But Bryce Quinlan bears her light.”

This is further confirmed by Aidas in HOSAB:

>Aidas’s eyes glowed like blue stars. “I remember the last Starborn Queen, Theia, and her powers.” He seemed to shudder. “Your light is her light. I’d recognize that luster anywhere. I’m assuming you have her other gifts as well.” (HOSAB 15)

Bryce's power is Theia's power, and she is Theia's heir.

In HOFAS, we learn that Theia was also High Lady of the Dusk Court prior to going to Midgard, as she bore the land’s power:

>"Thus the land’s powers became my mother’s. Dusk, twilight—that’s what the island was in its long-buried heart, what her power bloomed into, the lands rising with it. It was, as she said, as if the island had a soul that now blossomed under her care, nurtured by the court she built here." (HOFAS Ch. 19)

The Dusk Court land's power became Theia's power. And Bryce has inherited Theia's power. Bryce has the power of the Dusk Court.

The Dusk Court is Bryce’s inheritance as heir to Theia:

Silene says this of what she was told by Theia: "But more than that, she told me many times that she and her heirs were the only ones worthy of tending this island." (HOFAS Ch. 19)

And she also says a bit later: 

>"To leave this account for one whose blood will summon it, child of my child, heir of my heir. To you—I leave my story, your story. To you, in this very stone, I leave the inheritance and the burden that my own mother passed to me." (HOFAS Ch. 21)

>“This place, this Prison and the court it had once been, was Bryce’s inheritance. Hers to command, as Silene had commanded it.” (HOFAS 23)

Bryce is the one who can awaken the Dusk Court, and the island is explicitly referred to as Bryce's mountain.

>From far away, she could sense it: the things lurking within the mountain, her mountain. (HOFAS Ch. 22)

However, Bryce chooses at that time to not fully awaken the island, because then the prisoners would escape.

>Twisted, wretched creatures. Some had been here since Silene had trapped them. Had been contemplating their escape and revenge all this time. She’d let them out if she restored the mountain to its former glory. (HOFAS Ch. 22)

>And in that moment, the mountain—the island—spoke to her. Alone. It was so alone—it had been waiting all this time. Cold and adrift in this thrashing gray sea. If she could reach out, if she could open her heart to it … it might ***sing*** again. Awaken. There was a beating, vibrant heart locked away, far beneath them. If she freed it, the land would rise from its slumber, and such wonders would spring again from its earth. (HOFAS Ch. 22)

I highlight the word "sing" because people associate it with both Gwyn, a singer, and with Elain, who they tie to the "sing me" portion in the Book of Breathings prophecy.

>"Hello, sweet thing. Hello, lady of night, princess of decay. Hello, fanged beast and trembling fawn. Love me, touch me, sing me." (ACOMAF Ch. 57)

This also ties in with the "three mountains for three sisters" theory, where each Archeron sister will be tied to one of the three sacred mountains. Elain is speculated to be tied to the mountain where the Prison/Dusk Court is. But this particular mountain belongs to Bryce.

And I have seen theories that Elain will revive "the singing land", as in the Dusk Court.

But again, Bryce is the one to do that. "If she could reach out, if she could open her heart to it … it might ***sing*** again. Awaken."

At the point we're at in the timelines, post-HOFAS, the closest we get to the current status of the Prison/Dusk Court is this, while Bryce and Hunt talk about how she awakened Avallen, and how she may have also awakened the Prison/Dusk Court due to its suspected connection with Avallen:

>“I think it’s what the Prison—the island in the Fae’s home world—once was. When Theia ruled it, I mean. Before Silene fucked it all up. Maybe they’re linked in some way through being thin places and spilled over to each other a bit. Maybe back in that other world … maybe I woke up the land around the Prison, too.” (HOFAS Ch. 65)

Further, later in the book, a new island has emerged in Avallen:

>The surge of magic that had resulted had been intense enough that apparently a whole new island had risen in Avallen—as if the island was now bound to her very soul. (HOFAS Ch. 102)

**IF** Avallen and the Prison are connected, that could imply that it as well is bound to Bryce’s soul.

During Bryce's last visit to Prythian in HOFAS, Chapter 100, to retrieve her parents and return Truthteller, nothing about the status of the Prison/Dusk Court is mentioned. It is a relatively brief visit, however. 

What does happen is that Bryce gives the Starsword/Gwydion to Nesta.

>But Bryce began backing toward the portal, taking Hunt’s hand, and smiled again at the female, at her mate, at their world, as the Northern Rift began to close. “I think that eight-pointed star was tattooed on you for a reason. Take that sword and go figure out why.” (HOFAS Ch. 100)

So, here's what we're left with going into ACOTAR 6:

-Avallen was confirmed to be awoken by Bryce, and she speculates whether, since the lands may be linked as "thin places", that the island in Prythian may have been awoken too. (I'd be interested to see how that affects the prisoners. Are they loose in Prythian now?) 

-The island and mountain that hold the Prison and former Dusk Court belongs to Bryce.

-Theia's magic was the Dusk Court's magic, the High Lady of Dusk’s magic.

-Bryce now has Theia's magic as her heir.

-Bryce is, therefore, the rightful High Lady of the Dusk Court. 

-As it stands at the ending of HOFAS, Bryce seems disinclined to be a ruler herself. This is stated by her several times throughout the series, but most briefly evidenced by her abolishing the fae royal houses: Thus, with the stroke of the Autumn King’s golden pen, the royal bloodlines of the Fae were wiped from existence. (HOFAS Ch. 102)

*-*While Bryce's feelings may change in the future towards ruling, or perhaps she may have no choice, the title is rightfully hers as of this point in time.

-If anyone who isn't Bryce has ties to the Dusk Court, it would be Nesta, who:

1. Once bore a tattoo of the eight-pointed star, the symbol of the Starborn/Dusk Court.

2. Now carries the Starsword/Gwydion, which, as Aidas states: “That sword belongs to Theia’s female heir." (HOSAB 15)

3. Is encouraged by Bryce to "Take that sword and go figure out why" the eight-pointed star was tattooed on her.

4. Is tied to Bryce via their time together in Prythian, and is trusted enough by Bryce to leave her parents in Prythian with her.

None of this is intended as a slight to either Elain or Gwyn, both of whom I am very outspoken about adoring.

Could either of them get involved in the Dusk Court's return? Sure, absolutely. Anything is possible.

But as far as it stands now, a storyline leading to the reawakening of Dusk ties back to Bryce.

A final proposal, based on all that has been said here. While canon-based, this is pure opinion and speculation on my part:

ACOTAR 6, with its rumored dusky purple palette, would be the perfect time to explore Nesta’s connection to the Dusk Court. Given its shorter length compared to book 7, it would be a well-suited plot to serve as a bridge between all we learned in HOFAS and all we can expect in the next ACOTAR story arc. Like ACOFAS, it could have some familiar POVs as well as bringing in whatever new POV characters we can expect.
Please don’t yell, I’m not at all trying to take away Elain’s book. Elain WILL get her book and I can’t wait to read it. Again, this would be like ACOFAS leading into Nesta’s story in ACOSF.

Thank you for coming to my TEDTalk.

Art: renata.watsonn

This is a response to the "Disproving Gwynriel Parallels" post from yesterday, but I didn't want to put it into the comments because whew... that was a mess lol

As a preface, I'm not a diehard Gwynriel, it's more of a vibes thing for me. That said, the original post was very thought provoking, so I looked into it.

For the love of God, please see this as the good faith counterpoint it is intended to be.

Apologies in advance for the wall of text. I went to look for a few examples and found way more than I remembered.

Here is my alternate perspective on the matter:

The confirmed mated pairs do have the specific "soul" language. Not contradicting that at all.

Something that occured to me, however, is that the quotes used as examples only occur after the pair had forged some magical connection.

At this stage, assuming for the purposes of this post that they will be revealed to be mates, Gwyn and Azriel aren't at that point. If they have a mating bond, it has not yet snapped. And there is no other explicity stated magical bond between them. Hence the absense of any soul mentions.

But what Gwynriel does have at this stage, is another very common word choice/imagery that endgame couples have, some even before they are confirmed mates. Specifically, references to: sing/sang/singing/song, music, and dance/dancing/twining/twirling.

Gwynriel:

"How was the party?" Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him. Like it heard some silent music."

"Azriel entered the warmth of the stairwell, and as he descended, he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang in answer."

Here are parallels from confirmed pairings, highlighting the same sorts of imagery:

Nessian:

“Your power is a song, and one I’ve waited a very, very long time to hear, Nesta.” (ACOSF Ch 15)

"For it was music between their souls. Always had been. And his voice was her favorite melody."

and "she couldn’t take it, the music between their souls" (Both from ACOSF Ch 58)

"And she had music in her heart. A song made up of Cassian’s voice..." (ACOSF Ch 61)

"Cassian let out a soft laugh, and Nesta’s blood again sang at the mastery of it." (ACOSF Ch. 62)

Ruhnlidia:

"Her voice was beautiful. Like a golden song. It stirred his Fae soul, made it perk up." (HOSAB Ch 22). [This is when Ruhn and Lidia have already established the "mental bridge" between them.]

"...that was before her breathy moans filled his ears like the most beautiful music he’d ever heard."

Feysand:

"We were a song that had been sung from the very first ember of light in the world." (ACOMAF Ch. 55)

"But now Rhys and I stood hand in hand—unflinching, a song without end or beginning." (ACOMAF Ch. 55)

"My own blood sang at the power that thrummed from him, at the sheer beauty of him." (ACOMAF Ch. 42)

"I felt his power beckoning to me long before he got near the house, a dark melody through the world." (ACOFAS Ch. 5)

Rowaelin:

“...though she could have sworn she occasionally felt their magic … playing together, her flame taunting his ice, his wind dancing amongst her embers.” (HOF Ch. 45)

"His magic had been a song, and she had been … He’d never had anything like her." (EOS Ch. 39)

"Her magic flared in answer, a ripple of power dancing through her. As if it had found a mirror of itself in the world, as if it had found the countermelody to its own song." (KOA Ch. 35)

"... the unbreakable song of her and Rowan." (KOA Ch. 114)

"Her heart sang, roaring, at the power that flowed from Rowan and into her." (KOA Ch. 114)

"Rowan made her magic sing. And maybe that was the carranam bond between them, but … her magic wanted to dance with his..." (EOS Ch. 2)

"The need to not only be near him, but to have him so deep in her she felt their souls twining, their magic dancing…" (EOS Ch. 44)

Quinlar:

"Bryce pressed closer to study the photo on his phone, the heat of her body a beckoning song." (HOEAB Ch. 41)

"Vengeance incarnate. Wrath’s bruised heart. She would bow for no one. Hunt’s lightning sang at the sight of that brutal, beautiful face." (HOEAB Ch. 81)

"His lightning flowed into her like a river, and he could have sworn he heard a beautiful sort of music between their souls..." (HOSAB Ch. 64) [This one actually quite closely mirrors Azriel's "could have sworn" line in the BC.]

"His lightning danced up her arm, tickling, but not hurting." (HOSAB Ch. 44)

"It was only them, would only be them, dancing together, souls twining." (HOSAB Ch. 59)

Suffice it to say, the music-related language is extremely common between pairings. It can often predate a known mating bond. The "souls" language and imagery is something they all have in common, but only after a magical connection is established. Not always the mating bond, but the "mental bridge" in Ruhnlidia's case and the carranam bond with Rowaelin.

The last point to address from the original post is the "mutuality" aspect. And that's a very fair point. Bonds are mutual. My main response to that would be that we have nothing from Gwyn's POV, therefore can neither confirm nor deny that her magic reacted as Azriel's had.

What it all boils down to is that I am not saying Gwyn and Azriel ARE mates. I am simply saying that the absence of "souls" imagery at this stage doesn't necessarily mean they ARE NOT mates.

The "souls" imagery is saved for mates who are already connected.