#Because I had to include a little elucien in there

[sunshinebingo]

I Hate You Too

Summer Acotar Writing Circle - Part 1

Hello! I've had the pleasure of participating in another Acotar Writing Circle and this is what I've written as my Part 1. The second part of this fic will be posted on July 2nd by another writer and the third part on July 23rd by another writer. Thank you @azrielshadowssing for organising this event and thank you @lulling-night-sky, @hlizr50 and @headcanonheadcase for providing emotional support during the writing process 😅

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Pairing: Jurian x Vassa

Word Count: 1.9k

Warning: None

Synopsis: She hates him. He hates her. At least that's what they say. What will happen when they find themselves on a blind date with each other?

Read on Ao3 here

I hope you enjoy! ♥

...

VASSA

Vassa rolled her eyes for the hundredth time that night. She snapped her fingers in front of her best friend’s face. Elain startled and looked up from her phone. ‘’Elain, can you forget about your boyfriend for a minute?’’

‘’I’m listening,’’ Elain retorted. Vassa knew that she was not. It seemed that Elain could not go more than an hour without being in touch with her boyfriend, Lucien. At least she had abstained herself from checking her phone during dinner.

‘’What was I saying?’’ Vassa furrowed her eyes.

‘’You were complaining about the hot guy again.’’

Vassa gasped and removed a hand from her tea cup to place it on her heart. ‘’I never said that he was hot.’’ She remembered telling Elain that he was annoying, infuriating, irritating and exasperating. She never said that he was hot. Did she? No she did not. Not that she remembered.

‘’Vassa, you talk about that man more than you have ever talked about anyone.’’ No she did not. Did she? Maybe. But she had a reason.

‘’That’s because he is aggravating,’’ she said through gritted teeth.

Elain sighed and rolled her eyes. ‘’Why do you torture yourself so much with him if you hate him so much? You are almost turning into a masochist.’’

‘’I am not turning into a masochist,’’ Vassa pinched the bridge of her nose, ‘’it’s just that he invades my personal space All. The. Time.’’ She stabbed the table with her index after each of the last three words.

Elain hummed. ‘’Maybe you do need someone to invade your personal space.’’

‘’What?’’ she removed her hand from her face and looked at Elain incredulously.

‘’Don’t you think that it’s a sign that you seem to always be bumping into him?’’

Elain was not the crazy type of superstitious person who wore their clothes inside out or put salt in their shoes. But there were little things that she believed in. Elain believed in making wishes, she believed that dreams could sometimes reveal more than one thought, and she believed in little signs, like the universe plotting to put two people together at the same place and at the same time.

‘’Elain, when you met Lucien, he smiled at you and told you that you are beautiful. That one either looks at me like he is disgusted or smirks at me like he killed my cat.’’

Elain started to laugh but stopped when she saw the serious look on Vassa’s face. ‘’Maybe that’s how he flirts,’’ she shrugged.

Vassa snorted. ‘’Oh really?’’

‘’You should not complain. You do often look at people like they killed your cat.’’

‘’That’s only when they look at me like they did,’’ Vassa almost shouted. She was aware of her slightly fiery temper. But that man deserved every single flame sent his way since he was always hell bent on pushing Vassa to her limits.

‘’Nobody killed your cat Vassa so calm down. You don’t even have a cat.’’

Vassa took a deep breath and willed herself to calm down. She did not know what it was exactly about this man that set her aflame so much. Elain was probably right about this being a sign. Maybe the gods had sent him to punish her for every bad thing she had done in her past lives and this one. Maybe this was a sign for Vassa to change her life by drinking more water and giving more compliments to people. Although the only thing she wanted to give that man was a black eye.

The first time she had met him was at a coffee shop a few weeks ago. Vassa had just come out of an exhausting day at work when this asshole had made it worse by cutting in line before her. The next day, she had seen him again at the store where she swore that, despite his protests, he had bumped into her on purpose just to annoy her.

"Not you again," she had mumbled and he had responded with, ‘’Trust me, it’s not a pleasure for me either.’’

The next time they saw each other, he was waiting behind her at the post office. ‘’Are you following me?’’ Vassa had turned to ask him.

‘’I have better things to follow,’’ he had replied with a smirk.

The next time she saw him after that, he was again waiting behind her, but this time at a drive-thru. Vassa had resisted the urge to pull her car back and crash his own when he had kept honking at her to move when she clearly could not.

All of their encounters after that had gone more or less in the same way. They accidentally crossed path, she scowled at him, he either scowled back or smirked, they exchanged insults, they parted ways, and she waited for the next time when she would see his stupid face again. Because she had accepted that she was bound to cross ways with him. Vassa remembered every single place and time where they had seen each other. She could not even walk past these places anymore without thinking about him.

‘’Listen,’’ Elain reached across the table to place a hand on Vassa’s. ‘’I’m going to propose something to you and I want you to seriously think about it.’’

Vassa put all thoughts of her unfortunate encounters aside to listen to her best friend.

‘’Remember when we talked about you going on a blind date?’’

Vassa rested her head on the wooden table and let out a loud and exaggerated sigh. Elain had been pushing her to start dating again for a while. But she had refused every time. Vassa did not want to go back to casual dating with men who were too soft for her temper or women who would get jealous of her best friend.

‘’I’m complaining about a man and you want to set me up with another,’’ Vassa grumbled.

‘’The problem is not men in general Vassa. Your problem is that man.’’ That was the understatement of the century.

‘’I know what you will say,’’ Elain continued. ‘’But you won’t know where that could lead until you try. Plus this time I already know someone great.’’ Vassa lifted her head up and looked at Elain.

‘’His name is Jurian and he is Lucien’s best friend.’’ Vassa sat straighter at that. She had met Lucien a few times in the past 4 months that he had been dating Elain. On their first encounter at her and Elain’s shared apartment, Lucien had even laughed when Vassa had told him that she would always be Elain’s favourite redhead.

Lucien was hot, smart, kind and funny. He was Elain’s perfect match. If his taste in friends were as good as his tastes in clothes and women, then hopefully his best friend could be worth a try. Vassa stared at Elain as she pondered if she was really ready for that.

Elain smiled at her across the small table. ‘’I’m not forcing you to do anything. But as I’ve told you, you could just try.’’

‘’Are you sure you’re not just doing this so we could go on double dates?’’ Vassa raised her eyebrow at her.

‘’I would never do that,’’ Elain replied as if she was hurt by the assumption. But Vassa saw the gleam in her best friend’s brown doe eyes. She knew Elain only wanted her to have a chance at happiness. Much like what she was currently experiencing with her own boyfriend.

‘’Well I hope that this Jurian is nothing like the asshole who keeps following me around.’’

Elain shrieked and clapped her hands in excitement. Vassa rolled her eyes at her antics and at the realisation that she was again thinking about the asshole.

 

JURIAN

Credit card? Checked. Phone? Checked. Perfume? Checked. Hair? Looked good. Outfit? Looked great. One final check in the mirror and Jurian was ready to leave for his date. If it was not for Lucien, he would not have even gone on a date. But his best friend had insisted, telling him that he needed to find something else to do apart from watching TV with a beer and complaining about random people he met on the street.

He did not complain about random people he met on the street. He complained about one and only one. He could not even explain what it was about her that obsessed him so much. Maybe it was her stupid face. Or her annoying voice. Or the ways that she made his blood boil when he teased her and she insulted him back. He was certain that whoever he was about to go on a date with tonight would be nothing like her. No one could be like her.

And it seemed like she was determined to annoy him even when she was not there. As he drove to his destination, Jurian passed in front of all the places where he had come across the brat. The coffee shop on this street was where they first met. The bank on this street was where she walked on his feet and pretended like it was an accident. The store in the corner of that street was where she took the last Twix bar and smiled at him triumphantly and after which Jurian had flipped her off with a middle finger. It was like she was following him everywhere he went. The only place she had not miraculously appeared at yet was his apartment. Jurian was convinced at this point that the universe had sent her to test his patience.

As much as it exasperated him, he took great pleasure in being smug with her sometimes. At least when he was not so pissed that he wanted to throw something at her face. There was just something about that brat that made him want to challenge her. Lucien had often called Jurian out for being petty. But that did not stop him. If she wanted to go low, he would kneel before her and go even lower.

Jurian tried to push all thoughts of her aside as he reached the restaurant where Lucien and Elain had made the reservations for him and his blind date. Now was not the time to bother himself with brats. He had promised Lucien that he would be nice to Elain’s best friend. And that was what he intended to do. Lucien would have his balls if things did not work out with Elain and him just because Jurian had been an asshole to her best friend. Plus, Lucien, the one who knew Jurian the most, had told him that Vassa would be his type. He had refused to tell him what she looked like because Lucien did not want to spoil the surprise. But his best friend had assured him that meeting her would be worth it.

He parked, checked his appearance one last time in the rear-view mirror and walked towards the entrance of the restaurant. It was a pretty fancy place that promised good food and high quality wine. If the date did not lead to anything, at least he might enjoy a good meal. He pushed the glass door open and the first thing he saw was –

"This is a fucking joke."

"You have to be kidding me," the familiar brat mumbled at the same time.

To be continued...

[slytherin-pen]

The Nesting Fox

After five years of being mated, you and Lucien are eagerly awaiting the arrival of your first litter. As you enter the seventh month of your pregnancy, Lucien returns home from his Emissary duties to find you meticulously rearranging the baby's room, consumed by the need to prepare the space for your growing family. Sensing your stress, Lucien takes it upon himself to ease your worries by drawing a warm bath for you and offering comforting words to soothe your nerves.

pairing: Lucien x Reader

word count: 3.7k

all ACOTAR related credit goes to SJM

warnings: none/ fluff vibes only 🤍

A/N: i had writer’s block for a bit so i missed Elucien week but i started this with the theme in mind last week 😭 anyways, i hope you enjoy fluffy future-dad Lucien

As the warm afternoon sun painted the cottage in a golden hue and gently streamed through the windows, you hustled about, checking off tasks from your never-ending to-do list. Your little kit wasn't due for another two months, but time seems to go too fast and too slow while pregnant. You know you have all the necessities and have their room prepared, but that doesn’t stop the nagging feeling that there’s still more to do, leaving you restless.

Your best friend Mor has been taking you shopping for baby items and garments to replace your weekly pre-pregnancy coffee dates, and despite your complaints about the extra laundry, you do love spending time with her, however it may be. With your family living in the Night Court and you being heavily pregnant in the Spring Court, it’s easy to feel lonely, but Mor winnows in and catches up with you as if you never left. Aside from her visits, you keep busy preparing for the baby’s arrival by repeatedly cleaning and shuffling things around until it's just right.

Today's list of tasks includes organizing the new clothes in the baby’s dresser, dusting—a task that seems pointless in the Spring Court—and baking snickerdoodle muffins because the baby wants snickerdoodle muffins.

Lucien has had to remind you numerous times to take it easy. He frequently comes home to find you doing something you are not supposed to and swiftly ushers you to a chair. Pregnancy has not been the kindest to you, but you haven’t let it slow you down yet. You wouldn’t be his relentlessly energetic mate if you just sat around doing something mundane like knitting.

Before discovering you were pregnant, you and Lucien spent your days outdoors or traveling across Prythian and the Continent. You were far from being a passive couple. Besides, the basket storing away the yarn and needles became riddled with dust ages ago. It was a lovely gift from a Lord in the Day Court after your wedding ceremony inside the palace, but the longest you’ve sat still was when your previous High Lord, Rhysand, let you hold his son Nyx during a casual meeting in the River House. Babysitting Nyx occasionally has helped ease some of your worries about becoming a mother. Still, your mind was in a constant war between being confident in your abilities and thinking the absolute worst would happen and you would fail at being a mother.

Lucien has been your unwavering support during the most challenging days, helping you combat negative thoughts. He reminds you to breathe and trust that both of you will be loving, nurturing parents. You don’t know if it’s just everyday prenatal stress or the hormones making you an anxious, compulsive mess, but Lucien has remained his kind, witty, and ever-attentive self. He always knows what you need, whether you are cleaning the house inside-out until your feet swell or crying and raging about being out of sugar, and now ‘the baby will be sad.’ He bites down his retort about the baby's inability to conceptualize anything about the situation every time. Instead, he holds you, massages your feet, and goes to the shops as soon as they open.

When you first found out you were pregnant, it was after a trip to the Summer Court with Lucien as his plus-one on an emissary trip. The two of you had dined on shrimp and pasta among Tarquin and his courtiers. After dinner, Lucien attended a private meeting with Tarquin, Cresseida, and Varian while you returned to your shared suite. As you bathed and got ready for bed, you noticed you felt nauseous but thought you must have overindulged during dinner. You had just opened your nightly read when the urge to vomit was too strong to swallow down. You ran to the toilet and heaved until there was nothing left. Afterward, you brushed your teeth and requested a servant bring you a cup of ginger tea. You didn’t initially tell Lucien for fear he would fuss over you instead of focusing on why you were in the Summer Court. You had hoped an ingredient just didn’t settle well with your stomach and you would feel better shortly.

The trip lasted for three days, and as per Summer Court, every dish contained seafood. After each meal, you found yourself in the nearest bathroom, throwing up what little you had eaten. Lucien became concerned, noticing that you would run off, but you assured him you were fine and that the spices were giving you an upset stomach. He gave you a skeptical look, not believing your excuse due to your frequent travels and exposure to various cuisines. Still, he accepted you were keeping your bathroom habits private, as any gentleman would.

When you touched down in the Spring Court, and Lucien ran off to meet with Tamlin, you found the nearest healer. Something was wrong. You loved seafood. Not every Summer Court dish is delicious, particularly the scallop omelet, but shrimp was one of your favorites, and you threw it up every time. The meals made you sick after you ate, and the smells began to nauseate you as soon as they appeared on the table.

You were shocked when the healer informed you nothing was wrong but that you were pregnant. Your mind became a torrent of different emotions: fear, excitement, hope, and more fear. You and Lucien had stopped taking contraceptive tonics years ago with the knowledge you could become pregnant, but something about it happening made you question everything. Were you ready for a baby? What if Lucien changed his mind and didn’t want children with you? Would you be a good mother? The internal turmoil had paralyzed you, rooting you to the ottoman before the fireplace. That’s how Lucien found you after he met with Tamlin, and he knelt by your side, asking you what was wrong. You hesitated initially, but Lucien whispered encouragement in your ear, and you eventually told him you were pregnant. His gold and russet eyes lit up joyfully and immediately soothed your worries. He assured you he still wanted children with you— lots of them, even–that you would be the best mother, and between his salary and both of your families, obtaining everything the baby would need would be no problem.

A few months into your pregnancy, you and Lucien went on ‘Tour De Baby,’ as he called it, celebrating the news with family and friends. The two of you attended a formal dinner with Tamlin, and Helion and Lady Autumn hosted a baby shower. Eris insisted on visiting him and the hounds so they could ‘learn the kit’s scent,’ and your family in the Inner Circle guided you and Lucien on a rare, non-alcoholic night out through Velaris. Seeing your families so excited to meet your little one made your heart swell with adoration and gratitude. Even if your family was spread across three courts, your baby has a formidable village of warriors and High Lords who loved them endlessly, and that was more than you could ever ask for.

The tantalizing scent of snickerdoodle muffins baking in the oven filled the cozy cottage as you set out to rearrange the baby's room. As you surveyed the room, you realized the crib was too close to the window. What if the moon's light wakes up the little one? You quickly decided to move it. Then, you noticed a framed picture precariously hanging above the changing table. You couldn't risk it falling and hurting the baby, so you made a mental note to relocate it as well. As you stepped back, you noticed that the dresser seemed slightly off-center, prompting you to adjust its position.

Lucien heard a distinct dragging sound across the wooden floor as he walked through the front door. Curious, he followed the noise and poked his head into the room. "Release the dresser immediately," he demanded, a playful glint in his eyes. "What exactly are you up to, my sly little fox?" A mischievous smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he noticed your blush.

“I was just tidying a few things up,” you replied sheepishly, putting the dresser back on the ground.

With a playful smirk, he hoisted the dresser and carefully set it in its new spot, perfectly aligned against the wall. Sauntering over to where you stood, he took hold of your hands and teased, "Is destroying our poor floors your idea of tidying up?”

You inhale sharply, glancing around the room and blinking back tears. “I just want everything to be perfect,” you whispered.

Lucien’s face softened with understanding as he pulled you into his chest, wrapping one arm around your waist and cradling your head with the other. “I know, my love, but do you know what I want?”

“For your mother to send me her apple pie recipe?”

He chuckled before shaking his head. “I’m not opposed, but no. I want you to be healthy. I want our baby to be healthy. And then I want all of us to be happy. That’s it. That’s all I could ever ask for.”

The dam of tears you held back burst as you listened to your partner's sincere words. “I feel like there’s so much left to do. I know we have gotten so much done, but I can’t help but stress about what else we can do,” you whined.

“Oh, darling,” he sighed. He cupped your cheeks and wiped your tears away with the pads of his thumbs. “Perhaps you subconsciously feel the more work you find, the more ready you will feel, but that is not how it works, unfortunately. We still have two months left, but I promise you we will be ready. You are ready. I have complete faith that you will be a natural once our kit is born. As for being physically ready, you’ve handled it all, my love. All that shopping with Mor and planning lists with Feyra paid off. I told you to leave some work for me,” he winked.

You snorted, smacking his chest lightly. “You’ve hardly let me do anything. You made me sit in that chair,” you pointed to the rocking chair in the corner, “while you built the crib, installed the bookshelf, and made me stay at Tamlin’s manor for two days while you painted the room.”

“Technically, it only took one day to paint and one more for the fumes to air out,” he quipped.

Before you could roll your eyes, the smell of burning cinnamon hit your nose. “Muffins!” You turned away from Lucien and waddled quickly towards the kitchen.

Lucien laughed as he followed after you. “I was wondering what sort of concoction you had brewing in there.”

“The baby asked for snickerdoodle muffins, and what kind of mother would I be to deny my child before they’ve even left the womb?”

“Ah yes, this telepathic connection between the two of you. Pray tell, what else does our little kit ask for,” he asked, leaning on his hands, watching you from across the island that separated you as you pulled the muffin pan out of the oven.

Placing the pan on the counter, you hummed before looking up at Lucien. “Well, since you’re asking,” you smiled deviously, “a nice warm bath complete with a massage. And chocolates.”

He licked his lips as he moved closer to you. “I can’t deny my child before they’ve left the womb, now can I? I shall run you a bath this instant.”

You giggled as he kissed the crown of your head and rubbed your belly before leaving the room. Staring at the muffins on the counter, you couldn’t resist eating one while they were fresh and steaming right in front of you. The crumbs of cinnamon and sugar crunched between your teeth as the bready muffin melted on your tongue, and an involuntary moan escaped you. Your baby may not be born yet, but they certainly have good taste in pastries.

“My love,” Lucien called. “I have a warm, lavender-scented bath ready for you.”

“Coming,” you mumbled, swallowing the last of the muffin before rounding the corner and trailing after Lucien.

As you walked through your bedroom and into the ensuite bathroom, you practically groaned in pleasure at the sight. Steam rose from the clawfoot tub, courtesy of Lucien’s heating powers, and bubbles covered the water's surface. You slipped off your clothes, and Lucien held your hand as you entered the tub. He quickly followed, chucking his clothes onto the floor next to yours.

You leaned back onto his chest as he sat behind you, thick, muscular thighs caging you in between them. “This is nice,” you sighed. The bubbles came up to your breastbone as your body slumped against his, but your bump protruded slightly out of the water's comforting warmth.

He hummed in agreement, grabbing a folded washcloth and submerging it in the water before gingerly running it across your arms. “It is the least you deserve,” he murmured. “I cannot thank you enough for carrying our child.”

You looked at him over your shoulder and smiled. “You don’t have to thank me, Luc. I love you, and I love our baby. I can’t wait to meet them.”

“I know you do,” he kissed the tip of your nose, “but I also know being pregnant is no easy feat. First, there was constant nausea and vomiting; now, it’s insomnia, swelling, and back pain. Not to mention the mental toll it takes on you, worrying day and night about what our baby will need, and as much as I hate that you’re so worried, your concern is how I’m sure you'll be a wonderful mother.”

“You can't know that,” you grumbled. “Preparing for it and living it is not the same thing.”

Lucien lathered shampoo in his hands and began to scrub your scalp. “Perhaps, but after believing Beron was my father for most of my life, maybe I’m just content in knowing we can love our child without that monster looming over us. Knowing I will never be like him and you, being an angel sent from the heavens, I think we’re quite set. All I ever wanted was for my future children to be safe, especially in their own home, and they will be.”

You sighed as he rinsed the soap out of your hair, one hand shielding your eyes from the suds. “That is a perspective I haven't considered. I’m sorry,” you murmured.

“Don’t apologize, my love. I only mentioned it because I want you to feel as content as I do. I don't want you spending your first pregnancy fretting over the little things when what's most important is that both of you are okay. We don't know what the future holds, and things could change in the blink of an eye, but in the meantime, I want us to love each other and enjoy ourselves while our kit gets ready for their debut.”

You intertwined your hands with his as you gave him a peck on the lips. “Thank you. You always know what to say to bring me back to Earth. I don't know what I would do without you.”

“Oh, I have a few ideas. Starting with rearranging this house until labor forced you to stop, you stubborn female.”

A soft giggle escaped you as you leaned further into Lucien’s chest. “The day can not come soon enough. My back might break if my stomach gets any bigger.”

Lucien chuckled as he caressed your bump with his large palm. Despite how huge you felt, his hand could still cover the top of your stomach, reminding you that you were, in fact, not actually the size of a mammoth. “I hate to tell you that our little fox is not done growing and will get bigger, but-” he leaned over your shoulder to kiss the bump, “I can assure you that you are unbreakable, my brave and resilient mate. Pregnancy is nothing compared to the battles you’ve overcome, but after this battle, we will be blessed with a precious baby in return, and they will be ours to cherish alone.”

You craned your neck to gaze up at him. “We’re going to have to share them every now and then, you know that right,” you teased.

A soft growl rumbled through his chest before he nipped at your nose, eliciting your squeal. “We don’t have to do anything. We could hide in the woods and live like cave dwellers. No one could make us leave.”

“Well, technically, Tamlin could, being High Lord and all.” You trailed off as he began to leave kisses along your neck.

Lucien hummed, the placement of his lips on your throat sending vibrations coursing straight through you. “I’d like to see him try. I do believe he owes me, coming back to help him repair his court and all,” he teases.

“Would he be grateful enough not to mind his Emissary and wife living in his woods like animals? We might scare the villagers.”

“Darling, if the villagers can’t handle two Fae harmlessly prancing about the woods, they are in the wrong court. Their High Lord turns into a beast, for cauldron's sake.”

You laughed, clenching your eyes shut and squeezing your thighs together lest you pee yourself. “I can’t believe I forgot that. My stupid pregnancy brain has me forgetting everything, including changing out my slippers for shoes before leaving the house. I was halfway to town before I realized.”

"Was that the day you asked me to go to the shops for more strawberry jam after you had said you were going to fetch it yourself," he chuckled.

“Yep,” you grimaced. “I had to turn around. That was a whole trip in itself. No way I was walking back to the shops.”

“I’m glad you didn’t. I told you to take it easy, not run around town like a headless chicken.” You smacked his arm for referring to you as a chicken, and he kissed your cheek in apology. “I will handle the shopping from now on. You needn’t worry your pretty little head about a thing.”

“Oh, so now I have a head?”

“You’re a wicked thing when you want to be.” He rose from the tub, reaching for the towels before stepping onto the rug. “Come on out, love. The water is getting cold, and I still owe you a massage.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” your eyes brightened as you took his hand and let him wrap you in a soft, fluffy towel.

You held hands as the two of you walked into your bedroom, cast in the warm glow of flickering candles. Lucien changed into sleep pants while you slipped on a silk nightgown. You sat down at your vanity, and before you could reach for your hairbrush, Lucien grabbed it. “Let me,” he murmured.

Smiling at him appreciatively over your shoulder, you nodded and closed your eyes as he gently brushed through your hair. He was careful to start at the ends with light strokes and work his way up to your roots, mindful of how fragile hair can be while wet. Starting at your hairline, he separated your hair into three sections and began to tie your hair into a french braid. It became your favorite way to style your hair for bed due to all the night sweats you’ve had during pregnancy. Sleeping while pregnant was still uncomfortable, but getting all your hair off your neck helped tremendously with not overheating at night.

“So beautiful,” Lucien whispered, trailing his fingertips down your arms. You made eye contact with him through the mirror and couldn’t stop the blush that crept upon your cheeks. “Let’s get you in bed now, my love.”

You let him lead you to the bed in the middle of the room and watched him pull back the covers. He sat down first, to your surprise, and patted the spot between his legs. You giggled but situated yourself between his thighs and pulled the covers up to your waist.

“First, the chocolate I promised.” He handed you a bowl of small rectangles of dark chocolate. You moaned and popped a piece into your mouth as you grabbed the bowl and placed it in your lap. “Now for that massage,” he leaned over to the side table and picked up the bottle of oil, shaking a few drops on the palm of his hand and rubbing them together. You pulled your braid over your shoulder and let the straps of your nightgown slip down enough for Lucien to access your back. “Where does it feel the most sore?”

“Along my spine and lower back,” you replied, chewing another piece of chocolate.

He hummed in acknowledgment and began to massage your back. Starting at the top of your spine, he ran his knuckles down your back, releasing the tension with his motions. He moved on to massaging circles into your lower back with his thumbs, and the pressure was heaven-sent in such a sore spot.

You don’t know how long you sat there feeling every ounce of love and care he put into relieving your pain. Your eyes remained shut, and you’d never admit that you may have dozed off a couple of times, only once or twice, with a piece of chocolate in your mouth.

After the massage, you leaned back onto his chest, placing the chocolates and oil back on the table, and he wrapped his arms around your bump to lift it. He dipped his chin down to your shoulder and kissed your neck softly. “Does that feel any better, darling?”

Exhaustion consuming you, you could only hum and nod. Lucien chuckled, turned off the flames with a snap, and shifted your bodies so that your head rested on his chest as he pulled you into his side. “Goodnight, my love,” he kissed your temple. “And goodnight, my little fox,” he splayed his hand on top of your bump and rubbed his thumb in soothing circles as you fell asleep.

[tremsing82]

ACOTAR Future Families Headcanons

Ok I have few fun family headcanons for the acotar ships. (Disclaimer: I am not an fanfic author/writer so none of this will ever show up in a fanfic, I just like to create characters for headcanons, if anyone wants to use any of this for a story your more than welcome to do so just tag me so I can read it please 🙏😊😊😊🙏)

Feysand: they obviously have Nyx. I think they will definitely have 1 more and it will be a little girl. I also expect her name to be Stella (Star). (Personally I was expecting Nyx to be named Noctis and that their daughter would get the name Nyx since Nyx is actually the name of the Goddess of Night.)

Nessian: I am 100% committed to Cassian being a girl dad. My headcanon is that they have 4 girls. All with beautiful untouched wings. All who have embraced their Illyrian Valkyrie warrior training but also love fashion and formal events. I have this funny snippet that lives rent free in my head of Cassian proudly yelling at someone saying “My 10yr old daughter can kick your ass while wearing a tutu.” I think all their names will begin with the letter C: Cassandra(Cassie) Nesta surprised him with this name, Corine(Corie), Calista(Callie), Camille (Camie).

I do have this idea that Nesta and Cassian start their family journey off with them adopted an orphan/abandoned Illyrian baby girl that Cassian found and brought home to get her medical help and to just nurse back to health. Nesta sees him holding this crying baby trying to get her to eat from the bottle the healer gave him and she just melts for them both. And this baby is Cassandra.

Gwynriel: they had twins, boy girl twins. The girl was named after Gwyn Sister Catrin. And the boy’s name is Haden with his nickname being Hades (this is a guilty pleasure name for me, I have wanted to name a character this for years it even was a name on my boy baby name list). If though they want to stick closer to his name being similar to his sisters though, the boy version of Catrin is Cayson/Kasen/Cason (let me also add Kasen is my sons name so I am slightly bias in the boys names for this one).

Elucien: my favorite ship by the way. And yet I headcanon that they have 1 child, a son. I know crazy 😜. I have 2 reason for this 1) I like to think they like to keep their life simple. 2) I think they struggled to get pregnant. Their son is one of the youngest of the cousins, and he is highly cherished by his parents and family.

Their son’s name is Renard. Renard is French for Fox and Reinhard is German for Brave/Strong Council, which I think perfectly represents a child of Lucien and Elain. His nickname is Ren, I love it so much 🥰🥰🥰

He comes off as shy and definitely likes to clutch at his mother skirts when they first arrive at places. He is the quietest of ALL the cousins, lol (including Eris’ kids). But he’s observant and inquisitive and can be intrigued/curious. He likes to bake and garden with his mother, plays chess and work with his spell cleaving magic with his father and grandfather, go on hikes with his father and uncle where he learns about tracking and living off the land, he loves to read books, he loves to paint and draw, and he likes the piano. He literally is the little chameleon of the family, he see what interests other people and absorbs all their knowledge and collects it to try for himself. He’s been a little cautious around Uncle Cassian because Uncle Cassian was super excited to have another Nephew and tried to treat him like Nyx and Hades and that’s just not the kind of kid Ren is. Ren is closest to Nesta and Cassian’s youngest daughter Camille though. Camie is usually the bull in a China shop but with Ren she will slow down and let him show her what he is reading or drawing or teach her a new piece on the piano.

Eris: Eris is my other girl dad. He has 5 girls, which are nicknamed the Autumn Vixens when they get older. Him and Cassian are in a silent competition about who is the better girl dad, Eris beat Cassian recently by being able to do better girls hair styles. I am leaning towards their names being French inspired: Reine, Sophie & Sylvie (twins), Colette, and Elise.

Vassian: Vassa is an all boys mom. She has 6 boys and on her 7th pregnancy it’s finally girl.

[elainsgirl]

It is actually so naive of eluciens and gwynriels to think the bracket thing is just a popularity competition. As if it isn't a marketing ploy. As if BB themselves didn't obviously have a hand in what moments were selected. As if they didn't design the pairs to be beneficial to their pr and marketing strategies. We're talking a whole ass industry running on more money than any of us could grasp. They don't mess around to please raging fans when they have a business to run and casual readers to capitalize off of (no shade, we get our books, they get their money). And yet I only ever see Elriels even talk about publishing as an actual industry.

The antis should seriously just think about it for a second.

AS IF Blooomsbury would let Lucien be absent from that bracket thing if he is to be the next MMC. AS IF they would set Gwyn up against an iconic Feyre moment and doom her to fail, if she was to be the next FMC. AS IF they would include not one but two Elriel moments (yes, I think both are Elriel moments because they chose to explicitly mention TT in the Elain moment), and put them up against each other to make sure it moves on to the next round. As if they'd do that if Elriel was an "ended ship", not relevant for the future plot. And right before we are likely to get an announcement. To do all this and then pivot to Elucien or Gwynriel, is  incompetent marketing. It would never happen. The idea is laughable.

This isn't fan service. It's marketing, cheekily framed as a fan service event, ahead of an anniversary and an announcement of a huge release. But anyone can see that this is carefully orchestrated. It HAS to be, because publishing is an industry. Its orchestrated, and not in a nefarious way. Just in a perfectly normal standard for the industry type way.

Seriously, I've had quite a low opinion of BB given how they have handled Acotar the past four years. But this? Top teir marketing. Chaotic, to the point, no mercy for the small but screeching crowd of antis. Just ignoring them, dropping casual truth bombs about Elain. Whoever came up with this? Mad respect. Give them a raise.

And antis? Are antis really this naive? Or are they just holding on to a fantasy for dear life?

idfk atp. Its so obvious its a marketing stragety to bring engagement to their page and allow acotar to reenter the romantasy audience all before the big ACO10. BB had full control over what enters the brackets, some where fan submissions other selections where always going to make it. BB has a very a good idea of which moments are going to win each round and what type of narrative they’re creating. They do not gaf about catering to any fans. Right now their main priority is bracing the fandom for aco10. BB aren’t stupid. They know which topic is running hot in the fandom and what their readers are expecting.

Lucien didn’t make it into the brackets at all…it says a LOT about 1) how little the fandom cares about him aka he’s become irrelevant to the main fandom 2) BB haven’t prioritised him as important…hypothetically if an elucien book is next - by not including Lucien, they’ve just shown us he isnt that important RIGHT NOW. Yes Gwyn made it into the bracket but we all know how many people and which people voted for Gwyn moments- it would be to obvious that this is all calculated if Gwyn wasn’t included regardless…she was put up against a very iconic feyre moment. BB did it on purpose. Gwyn had no chance of making it and look - her scene is out. She’s gone…for a gwynriel book being next again this isnt a good look.

An Elain AND an elriel moment made it through. BB intentionally set them up against each other…why? Because 100% one scene will make it through. They even have a chance of beating the next few scenes. For an elriel book being next - this is very interesting and telling. Its bringing focus to Elain and elriel. AND both moments had TT which we know for sure will play a role in acotar 5 due to HOFAS.

it IS marketing. Its reminding old readers of acotar, convincing new readers of acotar and making the fandom active - with many people constantly visiting BB’s page. They’ve been very active and its not a coincidence that the last few months many big outlets are talking about acotar - all of this is building up towards aco10. Their big event. And you’re right - it is all orchestrated. Sarah is aware to an extent of whats happening and what her publishers are doing. The book is probably ready to be announced.

BB has been ruthless towards antis. They haven’t interacted or given in to the antis that where whining about elain killing hybern not being canon - ruining the event for everyone else - instead just ignored them which goes to show how irrelevant these people are. People aren’t going to believe a random account with a few thousand brought followers over the actual PUBLISHERS of the series whose reach is in the Ks. Its a slap in the face for antis, putting them back down into their positions. Reminding them, they’re nothing compared to the publishers of the series. The ones that have the final say and know what’s happening.

You know what I think? I think some antis are beginning to realise they’re wrong. They can’t jusyify everything - and this is making them insecure which they take out by being bitter towards elriel. Some antis have convinced themselves they’re popular names in this fandom - enough to believe majority would agree w them arguing w the literal publishers over a canon scene in the books they published when in reality everyone else was cringing and laughing at the sheer disrespect and audacity. Antis are only going to get more insecure and bitter. But I do think some are naive about this whole thing and are looking towards others to help them feel secure in their crackships again.

[wordsrequired]

is it weird that I never felt threatened by any other ship? sometimes I try to reflect and try to put myself in other people’s shoes. and I think why would the author even make elain and azriel a thing if elucien was the endgame? like why insert hints and moments that could’ve really been with lucien. he could have saved elain, he could have discovered she was a seer, he could have had a moment with her on solstice, he could exchange charged glances and little touches with her but he didn’t. like why give these moments to azriel? why not use these moments to build up your endgame? why make azriel move on from his 500 year old crush because of elain? if he isn’t supposed to be with elain, why even insert her in his story? why give them those moments? like elain already had graysen as a love interest and azriel had mor. why couldn’t they just gravitate to their endgames after that? don’t people understand that azriel’s story loses meaning if he jumps from one woman to another? or if he just goes after another woman just because he can’t be with elain? like where’s the romance and depth in that? like why should elain and azriel’s paths cross romantically? since people say it’s lust which obviously it’s not, cause you wouldn’t be celibate for a year, thinking about someone every night, losing sleep because of that person, keeping their gift in your bedside table, letting them haunt you, moving on from hundreds of years of wanting someone else ecc. just for lust. but let’s say it is just lust why should that even be included in the story? why does them wanting to f*ck each other have any importance in the story? and him being so affected by elain’s mating bond? even smelling it? needing to stay away in case it becomes unbearable? the man being in pain because of it? like why? why add that? why doubt the cauldron? why doubt and discuss their mating bond? there’s no necessity for all of this, if their journeys will be separate. why make elain have spy tendencies and hints? why make her friends with the spy wraiths azriel trained? they’re so many why’s I could write a book.

and the answer is so simple. but I know why it’s hard to grasp for some people. it’s because they dislike elain, the majority might even hate her. and they are blinded by that hate. it would be more honest to say I don’t want her with azriel cause I don’t like her than to twist the whole story and try to convince people that canon is actually a part of our collective imagination. I’d respect people more if they accepted what’s canon but just expressed that they don’t like it and really wish the author would follow another route. that’s it.

[spiritedstars]

This Time, I'm Ready [ Elucien ]

Inspired by Long Story Short by TS. I was listening to it randomly and a scene of Elain started playing out in my head. Recommend listening to it while reading :)

Shout out to @ruhnnlidias for always being my beta reader ♥️

Rating: SFW Genre: Little angst/fluff

Tagging: @helion-ism | @zenkindoflove | @crazy-ache | @danaanruhn | @eudaimonia83 | @vanserrass | @elizascarlets | @climb-the-mountian

As she stood in the woods and took in her surroundings, Elain realized she had made a tragic mistake leaving the Spring Court alone.

Darkness was setting and she had no idea where she was or how she’d even be found. 

All she knew was that she had needed out of the Night Court. She had needed to get away. Even at the risk of her own safety. 

Because she was sick of it. Sick of doing nothing. Sick of being nothing.

Sick of the coddling. Coddling she had played a huge part in allowing. 

Because comfort had always been more important than worrying. Comfort had been more important than facing everything that had been taken from her. But at what cost? 

At what cost?

Elain whirled around at the sounds of twigs snapping behind her and that familiar sense of self-loathing she had developed in the last two years threatened to explode in her chest. 

She was an idiot. An absolute imbecile for thinking she could do this on her own.

But it was too late to change courses now.

Elain’s bottom lip trembled as her eyes darted around her. The fae eyesight she’d resented for so long didn’t fail her now as she took in the details of the tall trees. Her vision — that stupid vision was what had spurred her to make this move. A vision that promised the sun and flowers blooming, coming from a manor she had once planned to call home before it was ripped away from her and her dreams became shrouded in darkness.

And Elain had been desperate for the sun for two years. 

So she had fortified her mind, blocked it the way she knew how so they wouldn’t sense her lie, and had convinced Rhys that she needed to go to the Spring Court. She had nearly begged, demanding they respect her vision and though Feyre had been hesitant, her sister knew she couldn't stop her. 

And Mor had winnowed her in, waiting patiently with her as she explored, as they avoided the beast that still roamed while she tried to piece things together. Her vision was important, they had to inspect what it meant…even if she hadn’t told them what her vision had been about.

Or rather, who.

But the person she had been looking for hadn’t been there as she had predicted. Mor had only given her a sympathetic look that had Elain clenching her jaw and said, “We’ll wait until morning to see if anything else can be found.” 

Elain didn’t want to wait until morning and Mor hadn’t noticed the satchel she had hidden beneath her cloak. Though she wasn’t too surprised. No one really noticed anything about her. People only saw what they wanted to see when it came to her. 

And maybe Elain should feel guilty about the panic she would likely cause Mor, even with the note she left behind, but she knew she needed to find him alone. Elain needed to make sure he was alright and for once, didn’t want an audience.

Because telling them what she saw meant they’d get involved. And for once, Elain needed them all to mind their business. 

Her hand tightened around the hilt of the dagger she’d stolen from the ridiculous amount stashed in her sister’s home and Elain hated the feeling of it, hated having to hold it, and hated the idea of having to potentially use it. 

Stabbing one person had been enough for her in this lifetime.

Turning her body, she tried to gauge where exactly she was. She had been careful to ask careless questions, to pretend to stare at the map of the location with as much boredom as she could muster all those times they'd bothered to include her in things. Which wasn’t often, but Elain had tried.

And now, she was trying to find… Lucien. 

A shudder went through her body at the thought of his name. The mate she had been ignoring.

The sun she was seeking, that she had blatantly pretended wasn’t there. Because he could be hurt and the thought of not hearing his heartbeat made her sick. 

She hadn’t been ready before. 

This time, she was.

Ready to run certainly, at the sound of another twig snapping. If only there weren’t predators that were ecstatic at the opportunity to chase their prey — and Elain had forgotten just how many predators were out there. How easy prey she was at the moment. 

Alone. Vulnerable. Breathing so loudly she was positive they could hear her back in Velaris. 

Elain took a deep, shaky breath and exhaled it quietly. Licking her lips, she did the one thing she hadn’t expected herself to do. She called out to her mate.

Lucien?

She called out silently, licking her lips as she tested the waters of the mating bond she’d been shackled with. A mating bond that, try as she might, was never as dormant as she let the others believe. She heard his heartbeat all the time. Felt emotions flicker from him. Saw hazy memories. 

Elain bit her lip, and slowly as she moved forward, the panic began tingling through her body. Why would he be listening? It wasn’t like she’d called out to him before. It wasn’t like she had ever been particularly kind to him. 

Elain, who was kind to everyone. She was nice. Took out all her rage at the one person who didn’t really deserve it. But gods, being nice was exhausting when she hated everything about herself. He sensed how she felt. He saw too much. Just as she saw and felt too much of him. 

In that stupid vision, she saw him coming for her. And he was whole and healthy. She had felt relieved at the sight of him. 

She only left to find that relief. 

But all she was finding was panic.

“Lucien?” she whispered and then shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut. She was so stupid. How would he even hear her out here? Elain had no idea where she was or if she was on the right path.

All she had ever been useful for was being beautiful and nice. Maybe her mother had been right all along; she didn’t need to know how to use her brain when she had that face. Thinking she’d be good enough to try and venture out on her own had been so foolish of her.

No wonder no one included her in anything. She wasn’t smart. She wasn’t brave. She wasn’t useful. Elain was just there, a mistake, a sad sight no one even saw or paid attention to. 

Her hand flew to her mouth to hold in the sob threatening to escape. She had been so stupid to come out here. 

Another branch cracked and she whirled again at the sound, scanning the area around her. She couldn’t have ventured too far from the Spring Court. She had to still be close, right? 

But as she took a step, Elain felt a chill run down her spine that had her freezing in place.

She swallowed and then whispered into the trees, “Lucien?”

Elain was afraid to close her eyes to seek him out, to travel without moving as she had done once before. She bit her trembling lip and looked for that thread that he had tested out with her so long ago. She looked for that thread around her ribs and tugged. 

He had to find her. 

He had to be listening. Or at least she hoped. 

Her face fell as the feeling of unease flooded her senses. Why would he be listening? He certainly wasn’t obligated to give her any of his time. Just like she hadn’t been obligated to give him anything.

Except for a conversation. Maybe they could’ve been friends. Maybe more. Maybe less. 

Taking a shaky breath, Elain shook her head. She needed to focus. She needed to find him. Closing her eyes and letting her senses take over, letting that power she kept to herself surface as she looked for him. She traveled while standing, searching, rooting for him. She looked and tugged at that bond, she searched with a desperation she’d never, in all her years felt.

He needed to find her. He needed to be okay. 

And she needed to get out of this quickly darkening forest. 

There.

She saw him, seated at a desk alongside the Mad General she had only met once long ago, and felt herself tremble at the sight of him. She watched him suddenly straighten as if sensing her.

“Lucien.” she whispered and Elain wasn’t sure if she was saying it in her mind or out in the open air but he seemed to hear her. 

For Lucien shot out of his seat and Elain watched his eyes widen, scanning the room. “Elain?” 

“I’m in the forest outside of the Spring Court. I came looking for you but you weren’t there. I’m lost and I want you to find me.” she blurted quickly, fighting back a sob. “Please find me.”

“Elain —” was all she heard from him, his voice echoing the panic that was close to seizing her and before she could say anything else, she was ripped out of her connection.

Elain stumbled forward and whirled around quickly to find a creature of nightmares snarling a few feet away from her. 

The creature stood alone, covered in dark scales with powerful arms that ended in claws she knew would slice anyone into ribbons.

Elain could only stand in horror, staring at the creature that gave her a bone-chilling smile. 

She hadn’t seen this in her vision. 

“Pretty, pretty pet.” it rasped, its claws clicking together as it stalked towards her. “You smell so divine. I’m going to eat you right up.”

“N-no, thank you,” she whispered and the creature blinked at her and then chuckled in a way that made the hair on her arms raise.

“Ah, well. That’s not what I want to hear.”

And the air between them stilled. The predator and prey as Elain stared down the creature. She had come seeking her mate and instead, found herself alone and vulnerable, about to be eaten alive.

Is this what she would amount to? She had stabbed the King of Hybern once long ago. She could not die here, without facing her demons. She had seen what her life could look like and Elain had finally decided to do something about it. Her grip tightened on her blade and she swallowed hard as the creature tilted its head mockingly at her. 

Elain let herself take a deep calming breath then without warning, broke out into a run. Birds fluttered from the trees above her as she ran back, not away to – from – from the Spring Court? She wasn’t sure and the panic she had been trying to suppress bubbled back up to the surface as the sound of the creature stalking her followed.

“Find me. Find me. Find me.” she chanted desperately, a sob slipping from her lips as she rounded a corner, following a light that had to be the earlier path she had followed. The light had to lead back to safety.

But as she ran, her cloak caught on a branch and with a yelp, she fell. Quickly rolling over, she swallowed a scream as the creature hovered over her, closer than she had expected and nearly gagged at its foul breath. Grabbing her by the ankle, it dragged Elain closer and she could only stare in horror, frozen in place.

“I’m going to pick you apart piece by pretty piece.” it hissed.

With a desperate scream, she finally kicked it with her free leg and scrambled away but it grabbed her again and Elain fell once more, the dagger slipping from her hand.

“Let - go - of - me!” she shriek-sobbed, her hand desperately seeking the hilt of that dagger.

“Pretty pet has some claws.” The creature rasped once more as it yanked Elain forward, leaning over her and Elain tried not to gag again at its foul breath, her hand still seeking the dagger. “Lost little lamb with no one here to save her. Left to be gobbled up.” 

Her hand faltered for a breath. 

No one here to save her.

Would she always be this way? Always waiting to be saved? Always the victim? Never knowing how to defend herself? 

She had no desire to be a warrior but Elain was sick of being the prey. 

Anger she hadn’t felt in a long while flared in her chest as her fingers finally wrapped around the hilt of the dagger and with a cry, she forced himself forward and shoved the dagger into the creature’s throat and held. She let out a scream of rage, fighting the urge to vomit when it’s black blood sprayed across her face. But Elain held and held tight, even as her hands shook until the gurgling sounds stopped and the creature slumped over her.

Elain let herself lay there, breathing heavily as her body started to shake. She was okay. She was fine. She had been attacked by a horrible creature and had survived. She was alive. 

She would be —

The sound of running had the breath choked out of her. She couldn’t do this again — she couldn’t take another one. 

But Elain couldn’t move. Her body wouldn’t budge and as tears started to spill, she bit back another sob, trying with all her might to move the dead weight off her. Never mind, its blood was on her hands and dress and face – never mind that she was likely to be crushed beneath its weight if she didn’t move.

Panic seized her fully as she tried to scramble up, the footsteps coming closer. She could pretend to be dead. She could —

A violent snarl echoed through the forest as the dead creature was ripped off her and Elain nearly shrieked once more until she saw who stood above her.

“Elain.”

Elain’s eyes widened as Lucien fell to his knees next to her, breathing as hard as she was. He started at her and the sheer amount of relief that washed over her made her lips start to tremble. 

“Lucien.”

She watched as a slight shudder went through him at the sound of his name from her lips and her body trembled as she stared and stared and stared. He had come.

“Elain. Thank fuck, you’re – you’re alright,” he asked and his hands hovered over her for a moment, as if forgetting that they hadn’t touched casually before – as if remembering then, it would be the first time in over two years. She watched as he swallowed hard, his chest rising and falling before slowly, Lucien held out a hand to help her sit up and Elain dropped her gaze to his open palm. “Are you hurt? Can you sit up?”

She blinked, hoping the tremors coursing through her body would stop as she stared back up at him. 

“You — you came.” was all she could think to say, staring at him as she slid her shaky hands in his and slowly sat up, her eyes never leaving him, devouring the sight of him. 

“Of course, I came,” he said quietly. “You – you called.”

Tears welled up in her eyes at the words but she blinked them back and swallowed hard, trying to find the right words to say. He had come. He had listened.

“You found me,” she whispered, squeezing his hands and Lucien’s gaze softened. 

He swallowed before carefully answering, “As long as you want me to find you...the bond will remain a thread between us.” he said quietly and squeezed her hands in return. “I’ll always find you.”

Her raging heart seemed to beat faster and Elain finally took a moment to run her gaze over his body. He was still in the tunic and trousers she had seen him in except now a sword was strapped to his back – a sword he hadn’t even bothered to use when he pulled the creature off her.

Her mate had used his bare hands to save her. And he was safe and whole, not a scratch to be found on him. 

Elain met his gaze, finding him patiently watching her, his brows furrowed in concern, and suddenly remembered how she was covered in filth and flushed deeply, pulling her hands back to her lap.

The corner of his mouth twitched as he glanced down at his now empty palms and let them fall to his sides. “You want to tell me how you got here?”

“I – I had a vision.”

“Ah.”

“It was about you,” she whispered and his expression turned curious. “Something bad happened to you.”

Lucien seemed to be fighting to keep his expression carefully clear. “And that…worried you?”

Elain’s flush deepened and she swallowed before whispering, “Yes.”

The air between them seemed to go taut but Elain refused to break his gaze as a slight color bloomed on Lucien’s face.

This energy between them wasn’t like what Feyre and Rhys had. Or even what Nesta and Cassian had. This…this felt different. 

The bond between them seemed to hold its breath until Lucien cleared his throat and finally said, so softly, in the way he always seemed to speak to her, “I’m sorry to have caused you all this trouble.” 

Elain blinked and couldn’t help the huff of a small laugh that slipped from her lips, fisting her hands in her lap. “If anything, I’m the one to apologize for causing you trouble,” she said and bit her lip. “I dragged you all the way out here.”

Lucien chuckled and Elain felt it skate across her filthy skin. “You did give me quite the heart attack,” he said and the corner of his mouth curled up at her flush. “I thought I was hallucinating for a minute.” 

“I’m sorry,” she whispered and couldn’t look away from him, trying to blink back the embarrassed tears welling in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to – I just – “

Lucien shook his head then gently and so carefully, reached for her hand. “You have nothing to apologize for,” he said and offered her a small smile. “I’m thankful you did. I’m glad you did.” 

And Elain felt her heart swell. This man – male who owed her nothing was glad she had called on him in her time of trouble.

“Even after all this time? We’ve barely spoken.”

“I know.” he only said and Elain felt her bottom lip tremble as she squeezed his hand in hers.

“Why?”

And Lucien couldn’t seem to help the tilt of his head as he gave her a look that was too knowing. “Because you never fully closed that door between us,” he said and Elain swallowed. “I know you’re well aware of how a mating bond works. You could reject it – reject me and no one would bat an eyelash.” He glanced at their hands and turned her palm over, his thumb daring to rub soothingly. “With the nature of the mating bond, a rejection would’ve been hard for me but I would’ve made peace with whatever decision was made.” Lucien met her gaze again. “I am not a male who forces himself to be where he is not wanted, especially with females. But…you kept the door open.”

“I’m not – I wasn’t —” Elain began then forced herself to swallow hard again. “I wasn’t ready.”

“I know,” he said again and gave her a small, slightly sad smile and Elain couldn’t stop herself from tightening the grip of her hand in his again. 

She met his gaze and knew he could feel every jumbled emotion she felt, every complicated thought that flickered across her face. But he waited. Patiently. Kindly.  And it was like he sensed exactly how hard it was for her to say more, to express her desires. 

The corner of his mouth curled up. “I will say…it has been very bold of you to assume I would be obsessed with you,” he added and Elain flushed. “If anything, this situation goes to show you’re the one who can’t stop thinking about me. Getting all worried and running around in the woods alone.” He ended the statement with a tsk and Elain blinked.

Before she could stop herself, a snort slipped from her at his statement and the snort turned into a raspy laugh and before Elain could stop herself, she was laughing so hard she could barely breathe. 

She was sitting on the ground of an unknown forest, still covered in the blood of a creature she had killed and Elain couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed this hard. 

And he sat with her as she laughed, watching her with amusement until the last giggle left her mouth, and Lucien couldn’t help but answer with a chuckle of his own. 

She had found the sun. And it was smiling right back at her. 

When she finally let out a sigh, marking the end of her slight loss of sanity a moment ago, Elain felt a sense of calm wash over her as he watched her and it took a few heartbeats of silence before Lucien broke the quiet. 

“I take it you’re ready to move now?” he asked and Elain nodded as he looked around the woods. “How did you even manage to get here?”

He stood slowly and as Lucien pulled her up, Elain didn’t let go, staring up at him as she stood flush against his chest. She’d worry about how dirty she was later. “I sneaked away.” 

Lucien’s brows lifted and the color on Elain’s cheeks deepened at his smirk. “Sneaked away, did you?”

“Oh yes,” she confirmed and Elain wondered if she’d ever realized how delicious he smelled. “Mor winnowed me in and I - um, waited until she was distracted and sneaked away.” Elain licked her lips. “But then I um, got lost.” 

“Poor Elain, getting lost in the woods all alone,” he said in a tone with a teasing edge to it and Elain found her heart beating faster, forcing herself not to think about the tenor of his voice when he said her name, flushing lightly again. 

But then color flushed on his cheeks and the silence between them seemed to soften; Elain couldn’t quite read the expression on his face but he seemed to struggle to say his next words. 

“All this to find…me.” he said so very quietly and Elain seemed to hear the question without him asking it – that of all people, she had ventured out into the unknown for him? As if in disbelief that he would be worth the effort.

Then again, she hadn’t helped much in her avoidance of him. 

“Y-yes.”

Once more, that thread at her ribcage went taut as they shared a glance and Elain wondered what it would be like if she just kissed him. Judging by the way his eyes watched her, she wouldn’t be too surprised if he could see it written all over her face, especially when he licked his lips.

“At least I’m not the only person you tried to give a heart attack to today,” he said with that teasing tone again and Elain’s lips twitched. 

“Oh, Mor is definitely going to kill me.” she joked and her heart stuttered when his grip tightened on her slightly, watching him blink back a look of rage at the idea that someone might think to hurt her. 

“Well, it’s a good thing I found you first then,” he said casually and cleared his throat. “Lest you get into any more trouble.” 

“I think I’ve had enough trouble for one day,” Elain said and her eyes finally snagged on the creature, lying in a heap across the grounds. Her hands unintentionally tightened on Lucien as she eyed the dagger still stuck in the creature’s throat and once again, she couldn’t believe she had done it. 

Lucien’s gaze followed hers and she felt his own hand tighten on her before he went back to scanning her face. “It seems a stab in the neck is to become your signature move.” he said lightly and Elain’s face heated. 

“Twice is not enough to make it a signature move.”

“For someone who doesn’t fight often, twice is more than enough to become a signature move,” he said with a snort. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”

“Considering you saved me today, I think you’re safe for now,” she said softly and Lucien seemed unable to help his chuckle. 

“I hardly did any saving, my lady,” he said with a small smile, his tone as soft as hers. “You did that all on your own.” 

And as Elain flushed deeply, she realized how long they’d been standing there, chest to chest just holding each other. The last time she had been held by him was that wretched day in Hybern and despite all the time and distance that had been between them, Elain seemed to feel nothing but ease to be held by him.

They stood for a few more heartbeats of silence, content to be just like this and Elain wondered if this was what the mating bond was always supposed to feel like. If she had been denying herself of this feeling she had always been craving.

She could hear the steady beat of his heart and while she was used to it being the lullaby that usually put her to sleep, Elain knew that wouldn’t be enough anymore. 

“Let’s get you out of here and get cleaned up.” Lucien finally said gently and Elain nodded, knowing she should pull away but found herself hesitating to do so. He seemed to feel the same way as his hand casually tightened. “We wouldn’t want anyone to worry about you.” 

At this moment, Elain didn’t really care who worried about her. Goodness knows how long had passed before they noticed she’d gone missing anyway. 

But he noticed her. He seemed to always notice her. 

So she couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Will you…stay with me?” 

Lucien tried to mask the hope that flashed across his face by clearing his throat but Elain saw it – felt it and knew she asked the right question. “If that’s what you’d like me to do,” he said.

“It is,” she replied, her voice more sure than she’d ever been. “I would like that very much.”

His answering smile had warmth spread through her chest. “Then I am happy to oblige,” he said. “I am at your service, my lady.” 

[extremely-judgemental]

Long Post

One of the questions in the game was this.

Who is worse?

Azriel: For his “three sisters for three brothers” entitlement

Elain: For choosing to dally with a male while her mate was in the same house, whom she refuses to accept or reject even after a year of knowing of the bond

The result was obvious. Azriel won this round. But I’m gonna be a little controversial here.

Before proceeding, I want to emphasise that Azriel’s beliefs are disturbing, his entitlement is wrong, and the gifting of the discarded necklace (in addition to what it stood for) to Gwyneth is downright disrespectful. Also, Elain has the right to time and space to heal and pursue whoever and however she wants. 

Fair warning: I am anti-elucien and anti-elriel. I hate both ships when I otherwise don’t give two fucks about romances. The following is purely a logical analysis based on the characters alone and the impact of their actions. I love analogies and hypotheticals, this will be full of it. And MANY sections because there’s too much going on for me to keep track of and I’m too tired to edit this. Good luck keeping up.

Azriel

Azriel has been in love with Morrigan all his life and only ever made a move once, after he found her close to death. Since her rejection, he leaves her alone. He has been living with this humiliation for five centuries.

When Morrigan flirts with Helion in Dawn Court, Azriel disappears for that night. He exhibits similar behaviour during the solstice party choosing to isolate himself around Lucien and Elain.

Given his low self-esteem, he wouldn’t actively seek another woman. He would repress his urges and desires like everything else. And so, he doesn’t pursue Elain openly.

It’s not to disregard his attitude towards Lucien but Azriel wouldn’t declare the Blood Duel only because of his belief. And if he did, that would be public humiliation if Elain rejected him and favoured her mate instead. 

His confidence only comes to the surface after he is convinced Elain wants him, which is understandable—fighting for someone who loves him. Her interest in him reinforces the idea that she is wrongfully ‘given’ to another.

Also, this take by @goldenspringmornings explains his perspective very well.

#also imo it’s not even really that creepy of him #azriel is an abuse victim who’s likely not even aware of the toxic relationship he’s stuck in #he’s seen twice now that self worth and happiness with in the ic is dependent on having a mate #and more specifically an archeron sister through cassian and rhysand #he’s desperate for elain because the people closest to him are modeling/encouraging that sort of behavior #it’s not even really about elain herself it’s that he wants to fit in with the ic and have that sort of happiness he’s been searching for #for centuries that rhys/cass just had handed to them

Elain

After the solstice party, the two run into each other and exchange presents. Acceptable. But later, Elain is the one initiating intimacy by asking Azriel to help with the necklace.

Elain has the right to figure herself out and what she wants out of life, and if that life includes her mate. She deserves that chance and choice. But, did she have to do it the one night Lucien was in the court, let alone the same house? Why did she pick this exact moment when she and Azriel lived in the same city?

Let’s not dismiss Elain as naive. The first time she talks to Lucien, she says that she can hear his heartbeat through the walls. (And the worms in dirt and leaves and more which I don’t particularly remember) Someone with such awareness of fae abilities and her still almost kissing another man, or going beyond that, when Lucien is merely rooms away is quite brutal and heartless.

Elain, moreover, knows what she is doing. She has been living with Rhysand and Feyre since she turned fae. Even without understanding the bond, Elain saw the pain Feyre was in when Rhysand briefly died during the war and she witnesses their relationship every day in River House. She doesn’t have to fully accept the concept of it but she can’t be that blind to it unintentionally either. (Do not bring in ‘Rhysand is manipulative’ and ‘Elain is protecting herself’ here. The narrative is biased in favour of Feysand, this will never be acknowledged, and Rhysand is Elain’s future bestie. She’s not going to be scared of him. Let’s move on.)

Assuming, Elain is in the ‘I won’t yet accept I’m a fae’ mentality like Nesta was in Silver Flames, the only thing that comes close to a mating bond by human standards is a forced betrothal. If she didn’t want to learn about it, she should at least be curious about how to escape it, and instead, she is stringing her mate along while simultaneously pursuing another. Since the plot is set in medieval times, that’s scandalous for a proper lady.

‘Elain doesn’t owe Lucien’

I agree. She doesn’t owe a proper relationship because of the bond. But Lucien never pressured her. He gets her presents when he visits and checks on her, all out of courtesy. Not to forget, he isn’t over Jesminda and believes even after her death that she was meant to be his mate.

As of now, Elain has complete freedom over her life. In Frost and Starlight, Feyre barely tries to talk Elain into giving Lucien a chance and backs off immediately when Elain opposes. Morrigan too advises Feyre not to meddle.

The only pressure is the mating bond itself. And iirc the distance helps to tamper it and that’s why Lucien chooses mortal lands over Night and has his own home in Velaris.

So, there is no ‘owing’ in the narrative? Although, she does owe an answer or, at the least, an honest conversation.

‘Azriel should back off because of the bond’

This is a man who has been waiting for a woman to reciprocate his feelings for 500 years. Why would he throw away the little attention he is receiving from someone for the first time? If anything, it explains why Azriel is being aggressive and protective of it.

Also, Lucien is neither a friend nor a brother for him to be considerate as he is with Cassian and Morrigan. He has no reason to prioritise Lucien’s feelings over his own. That almost kiss, in his mind, is essentially Elain rejecting her mate.

Why would he care about Lucien when he is just a pawn for Night? Besides, Azriel doesn’t have as much loyalty to his court as he does to Rhysand.

If Elain picks Azriel, will he be expected to respect the bond and send her off with Lucien or will there be an outcry that Elain’s ‘choice’ is more important? Will he be expected to put Lucien’s sanity above Elain’s wants?

Is Elain ever responsible for anything?

If Elain chooses Azriel, Lucien will leave Night entirely and live with Band of Exiles untethered from the Inner Circle.

If Elain chooses Lucien, Azriel will continue to pine quietly, only for a different woman, until he finds his mate. 

If Elain chooses literally any other person, the reactions of the two men will remain the same.

Aren’t her deeds so far dictating how these men act around her? 

If matters had escalated on the solstice night, what then? None of the Inner Circle likes Lucien. Rhysand reprimands only Azriel because of the political stakes. He goes as far as to manipulate Azriel by bringing Morrigan into conversation after choosing to stay silent in that matter for so long. He had no issues interfering in Nesta’s life for his brother, but he let Elain alone when Lucien is integral to his court and he has witnessed Azriel’s suffering for centuries?

And let’s say, Lucien is aware of what transpired that night. Who would truly care about him? He is not the kind to confront Elain as he definitely hasn’t exuded any entitlement towards her. If he did, who would take his side? In fact, his emotional state will be exploited to further belittle him and remind him how he wronged another Archeron sister.

Honestly, whenever Elain is involved, none of the other characters can ever win because ‘Elain is Elain’.

She isn’t a fool to not know her actions will lead to conflict between the two men. Will she be blamed for hurting Lucien or going for Azriel while being mated?

If anything, this will be Morrigan 2.0. One is already labelled ‘entitled’ for merely bringing presents and the other is reduced to a horny man-child. But as long as they fight each other while Elain ends up scot-free and with a comfortable life, the consequences be damned.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate that she is exploring her options. With Azriel, she might feel ‘seen’ which is what she wants. She also gets that with Lucien (proven in their first meeting) although she is ignoring him in a way to resist the bond. My problem is that she goes for another man when Lucien could probably hear or sense what she is doing, and I believe, it is intentional on her part. She is running away from making a decision and indirectly pushing Lucien to do it for her.

So ultimately, for me, the deciding factor on the ‘three sisters analogy’ is: Would Azriel have still challenged Lucien if Elain showed no interest in him? This is very telling from the fact that he didn’t woo her even when they were alone. Elain makes the first move. Elain consents to the kiss without being asked. 

IT STILL DOESN’T GIVE HIM THE RIGHT TO BE THAT ARROGANT BECAUSE OF SOME ATTENTION THOUGH. THAT WAS STILL GROSS. (Stating it again before someone twists my words against me.) He does need to do A LOT of healing before he approaches any woman romantically.

Azriel is twisted, I admit. His feelings aren’t entirely genuine or good-natured although it’s understandable given the circumstances. Also, he lacks certain awareness to grasp concepts regarding relationships and boundaries, which all go back to his past and the toxicity in Inner Circle. At the end of the day, his thoughts are just that and haven’t gone beyond threats so far.

The same can’t be said for Elain. This behaviour combined with everything we know of her comes off as selfishness (which I am not going to repeat). Knowing her actions will inevitably hurt someone, or solely intended to push Lucien away, is just manipulation.

In her book, this will be sympathised with as her rebellion, her passive-aggressive stance to resist the bond especially when its pull is stronger because of the proximity. IF THIS EVER IS ADDRESSED. All of her actions will be blamed on her lost love and trauma.

Everyone is fixating on Azriel which is overshadowing Elain’s cruelty. And the ones who notice it like to go with ‘women’s choice’, when in no way, Elain is choiceless in this specific scenario. She can choose to accept or reject the bond whenever she wants and live with whoever she wants. Inner Circle will stop or stand by Azriel depending on her choice. Inner Circle will continue to protect her from Lucien until she shows any feelings for him and then look for a way to ground him in Velaris (unless Feyre gives the okay to let her sister leave).

The plot until now revolved around her sisters and that’s why we know so little about what she’s doing in the background. But the prolonged timeframe and Elain’s inactivity don’t paint her as a simple, harmless woman dealing with her trauma, but as someone who is exploitative and prefers to hide behind someone on purpose. It’s not enough to throw in an ‘I’m sick of being invisible’ or ‘I’m not a toy to be won over’ dialogue around when her actions speak for themselves. No amount of blaming her chosen mask on others (Nesta) is going to undo all this.

If you’re still confused about whose side I’m on: Azriel is lame but I get him. Elain is bad. Lucien is an angel and everyone in Night should leave him tf alone.

[elrielffs]

If Elriel isn't endgame, then what is the point?

Speaking from a purely narrative and writing perspective, what would all the Elriel scenes have achieved character wise or story wise?

To build tension for Elucien? There is already plenty to work with if SJM wanted to go that route, Elain dealing with losing Grayson and gaining Lucien with one blow, Lucien being part of Elain's trauma which she acknowledges to his face, coping with a mating bond that she doesn't understand and doesn't want but feels a pull to...prime material that SJM has not capitalized on. (I can't think of any reason Elriel would serve Azriel/Gwynriel in a build up to their relationship.)

Instead of building little scenes like she has for Elriel, she sent Lucien away (to another woman to boot!). I've stated before that if Elucien was endgame, 100% it would have been Lucien that figured out Elain was a seer. It would have been so easy to include that, it's not even a romantic scene but it speaks to the connection between characters especially after Madja stated a mate would know what's wrong. If there was any other scene, that needed to between Elain and Lucien to convince their endgame, it was this one because then you're left wondering why did Azriel know and Lucien didn't, especially since Lucien has the bond that gives him insight to Elain on another level than anyone else?

The same could be said for Gwynriel. It would have been so easy for her to set up scenes for them if that's the route she was going during ACOSF, even a crumb of what Elriel has gotten would suffice. Once again my main sticking point for Gwynriel like Elucien with the Seer revelation is Azriel not caring enough about Gwyn in the Blood Rite. Siphons flashing doesn't speak to any other feelings besides being upset equally at all 3 women he knows and trained being in danger. We can compare to how Azriel reacted to Elain being kidnapped, which around that time, Az had spent the same amount of time with each character and did not have the same reaction.

All of SJM's relationships have served a point or fully run their course. An interrupted kiss is not a culmination or a end to a relationship being set up. If Elucien/Gwynriel happened, there would always be the what if. What if Rhysand didn't stop Azriel hovering in the background narratively. What if they had kissed? What if they had been able to pursue the relationship? SJM's other relationships have been allowed to explore this possibility so you know when they end up with other people, you don't question whether it worked with someone else or what ifs because you know because the relationship was allowed to run it's course and ended because of internal factors.

What paused the relationship growing between Elriel was an external factor, not an internal one. Internally, Azriel and Elain have no reason to stop having their feelings because nothing has happened between them to stop it, if anything they are exacerbated more by being denied and haunts the characters narratively (And Azriel in story).

But again, what's the point? What would be the factor narratively that Elriel would have served for both Elain and Azriel, especially since it's left unfulfilled?

There isn't one unless they are endgame and why it would be bad writing if not. This is one of the big factors that convince me about Elriel 100%. You don't just throw in these scenes between two characters as filler or background noise and you definitely don't leave it open ended if you are planning to pursue other options. Narratively, that's unsatisfying and poor set up if an author plans to move forward somewhere else. It means something and there's only one road that it all leads to.

[clockwork-ashes]

All You Have Is Your Fire - Part XXII.V (Eris Vanserra POV)

Summary: Eris Vanserra spends most of his evenings attending to important business, although he does occasionally believe he deserves a break.

Note: I had to include a small side story within this larger fic, and Eris is one of my favourites!!! This is a short Eris x OC (Cora) one-shot! Next update will be back to regular elucien chapters, so I hope you guys enjoy!!! SMALL WARNING, this will be a little spicy ;) A huge thank you to the lovely @sad-scarred-sassy who deserves all the credit for the post that inspired me to start writing this :)

Tag List: @anishake / @nocasdatsgay / @mybestfriendmademe / @talibunny30 / @halfbutneverwhole / @wishfulimaginings / @goldenmagnolias / @emmers-bens123 / @cauldronblssd / @xirose / @rarephloxes / @thehighlordishere / @the-darkestminds /

Eris tilted his head, wolf like, as his ears caught the gentle sound of keys going into the lock of the room’s door. He frowned, not having heard any footsteps, but even in the dim lighting, he knew it was simply Cora returning to her chambers for the evening. 

Eris sat up from where he had been sprawled across her small bed, leaning his elbow on her pillows, setting down the sketchbook he had idly been flipping through until the Night Court female had returned. 

She was humming a musical tune softly to herself and Eris could not help but find it endearing, especially as she fumbled to strike a match, her eyes not having adjusted to the dark. 

“I forget,” Eris began, smiling involuntarily at her yelp of surprise, “that you can’t light the torches.” He willed the smallest bit of his own magic to do so, shadows falling across the room, highlighting the sharp planes of Cora’s lovely face as she scowled at him. 

Her glare could level mountains, Eris thought, nodding his chin at her in greeting. She crossed her arms, raised a brow in question. “Can’t go an entire day without me?” Her accent was thick with the rhythms of the Hewn City, the vowels short and the consonants striking. 

I can’t. 

Eris would have rather cut out his own tongue than admit such a thing to the wicked creature standing before him. He lifted a shoulder, “I usually get what I want.” 

“You’re spoiled,” she snapped, her ever present bite to the words were without an ounce of patience, although she did not ask him to leave and Eris fought to maintain the uncaring expression on his features. 

“You were with Elain.” He knew that his brother’s mate was worried about the quickly approaching equinox, and while Eris had ensured she remained safe, he was hardly going to concern himself with the disastrous predicament she had gotten herself into when she had told his father that she and Lucien were to be married. 

Eris had been confident that Cora’s response would have been a resounding yes, but she shook her head at him. “I was with your mother,” she corrected. “I was helping her with the floral arrangements for the wedding.” 

Eris could not help but frown. “And she needed you for that?” He would have preferred the Lady of Autumn to stay away from Cora. For selfish reasons, since his mother could be meddlesome, and because he did not entirely trust Elain’s friend. 

Cora locked the door behind her, not looking at him as she placed the keys onto the mantle of the fireplace. “I think she must be lonely.” There was an edge of understanding in the tone she used that suggested perhaps she was familiar with the feeling. 

Probably, but Eris would never admit that the loneliness could be a noose for everyone within his family, its hold tightening around the necks of the Autumn Court as time passed and there was no shift in power. 

Without Lethe and Kai — without Callum — Eris might have been lonely, too. His frown deepened and he tried to shake the thought from his mind, he and his mother were not on the best of terms, not since Lucien had been born, but his chest ached when he considered the isolated life the High Lord’s wife led. 

Eris was not going to spend the rest of his evening talking about his mother to a female he barely knew, so he began to idly stroke the edge of the sketchbook. He flipped between the pages, the paper rough. He hummed in response, to let Cora decide if he was agreeing with her observation or not, and tossed her sketchbook onto the nightstand. He focused on the way she began to take the braid out of her hair, followed the column of her neck with his eyes, the flames of the fireplace making her skin seem smooth as stone. 

“Your drawings are nice,” Eris offered into the silence. Cora had sketched the forest, the library, his hounds — even his bedroom — near perfectly. “You would have made a better artist than a lady’s maid.” She snorted in response, scrunching her nose at his words. “Have you considered switching professions?” He meant it sincerely. From what he had seen, she was quite dreadful at her job, to the point where Eris truly believed she was Elain Archeron’s personal guard. 

Cora was certainly blood thirsty enough for it, a fact Eris quite liked about her. She had her secrets, he was sure, everyone did. He tugged at the little golden hoop on his earlobe as he waited for her to answer.

Cora combed gentle fingers through her hair, considering his question seriously. She frowned in thought, and Eris took a moment to admire the way her full lips turned down into a pout. “I could never be an artist.” 

“Why not?” He might have been more curious if she had not decided to lift her skirts, flashing the skin of her ankle while she slipped off her shoes. It was his attempt at learning more about her, allowing her the chance to speak, since she shared nothing without a bit of prompting. 

You talk so much, and yet you say so little.

Eris had huffed a laugh at her remark, the only thing she had snarled at him as he had escorted her to Elain on their first day in the Autumn Court. He had found Cora startling, when most things at his age were simply to be expected. 

Eris had since learned that he was a raging forest fire in her presence, and she seemed to be the wind breathing more life into the flames. He could hardly look away from her when she was near, his eyes falling onto her when she entered any room. 

He had been half hard at the thought of her lips, at the promise of her kisses, before he had even opened the door to the small space he was now in.

Eris watched as Cora raised her shoulders in a shrug, as she made her way with elegant steps across the carpeted floors and towards the bed. His breath caught in his throat as she sat on the edge of the mattress, he could hear her steady pulse in his ears. 

“They wouldn’t let you, in the Hewn City?” He said softly, remembering she had been responding to another one of his questions with her shrug. 

Cora placed her hand so close to where his rested on the blankets, and he silently urged her to reach out, to let her fingers inch forward ever so slightly. She did not, choosing instead to blow a strand of her dark hair away from her eyes. 

Cora shook her head, “They have more need of musicians.” 

Eris’s mind turned to the solstice balls he had attended in the Night Court, the lilting music that everyone danced to as the evening went on. “So you don’t play an instrument,” he concluded. 

To his surprise, she laughed, the sound echoing in his skull. 

Lovely. 

“I’m very old,” she moved towards him suddenly, their noses nearly touching as she got onto her knees. “I play three.” 

Eris breathed in deeply, the scent of spruce trees and mountain air lingered and he felt drunk, his thoughts slow. “Very impressive,” he murmured, falling onto his back as Cora crawled towards him, her intentions clear. She placed a hand on his shoulder, using him for balance, one leg going over his waist so that she could straddle his lap.

Cora hovered above him, and while Eris had been expecting a kiss, he froze as she raised a hand towards his upturned face. She let scar-flecked fingers trail along the sharp line of his cheekbone, her thumb stopping on his lips. 

They stayed like that for a moment, before Eris broke the heavy silence. “Kiss me,” he ordered, but even to his own ears the words were breathless, the illusion of control. Cora ignored him, choosing to instead unlace the strings at his throat. She traced his jaw gently, and he stilled as she reached for his neck.

“Getting into fights?” She murmured and Eris winced. He had forgotten about the bruises, about the punches thrown between himself and Ronan moments before he had gone looking for her. 

It would have been too much to explain that he and Ronan always argued about the war camps now settled further into Spring’s territory, especially since Cora’s loyalties laid with the High Lord and Lady of Night. 

Eris decided not to answer, pulling her down so that he could nip at the skin between her neck and shoulder. His hand grappled for purchase in the fabric of her skirts, pulling them up so they could pool closer to her knees. He let his palm travel up the smooth curve of her calf, kissed her neck as he brushed his canines against her pulse. Eris paused at the knife strapped to the inside of her thigh, pulling away to raise an auburn brow at her. 

Cora blushed, her brown cheeks darkening a shade at the desire she must have spotted in his amber eyes. “For later,” she said, a mischievous smile gracing her stunning features. He felt himself further harden at the thought, pants straining as he wondered how she might put her blade to use. He would let her draw blood if she wished.

“Planning my murder?” Eris asked as Cora made herself comfortable, knees on either side of him. She pulled up her skirts further and his eyes tracked the movement, his hands followed along, touching every inch of skin she revealed. She was teasing, fully aware of the effect she had on him. 

Cora hummed, the sound making him shiver. “I do love treason.” 

Eris breathed a small laugh, a dreadful mistake on his part. The scent of her arousal lingered around them and he found himself growing tired of her games. He needed to taste her, had been thinking about it all day. 

Tightening his grip on the back of her thighs, Eris pulled Cora forward, perhaps more roughly than he intended. 

She threw out her hands, catching herself on the headboard, looking down at him with disdain. He had forgotten for a moment how small she was. Her dark hair fell around them, it was long, so long, as though she had not cut it in centuries. “Was that necessary?” 

Eris grinned up at her from his place splayed out along her pillows. “Sit.” 

Cora glared at him, as though she simply would have left him there, to annoy him as much as to prove that her will was stronger than his own. 

If it had been anyone else, Eris might have gotten up and left, to make a point that he did as he pleased and the faeries he dragged to his bed were merely a nice little distraction. 

He was, after all, a prince. 

Instead, he ran his hands up her thighs, feather light, before he repeated himself. “Sit.” 

And Cora did. 

Eris was used to the males and females of Autumn, vicious in court but shy when it came to their own pleasure. He knew it was because they were afraid, wisely so considering the reputation Eris had built for himself. He would thoroughly seduce them, bring them back to his chambers, and watch as they trembled, unsure, hands at their sides. 

It had been fun at first, but Eris was dreadfully bored, and Cora was interesting. She knew exactly what to do with her hands, dragging curses and moans from Eris’s lips with nothing but a simple twist of her wrist. She was also absolutely gorgeous, her dark eyes haunting him so he could not have a moment’s peace. 

He breathed in deeply, leaving a trail of kisses up the inside of her thigh. The dagger was still there, the metal cool against his cheek, and he licked just above the hilt with a long swipe of his tongue.

When his mouth brushed over the spot he knew would bring her the most pleasure, he paused, waiting for her permission. She shifted impatiently above him, and although she could not see him through the curtain of her skirts, Eris smiled. 

He pressed the flat of his tongue against her, and he felt as her nails scratched at the skin of his scalp, as her fingers tangled into the auburn strands of his hair and she kept him in place. Eris decided he would have gladly spent the rest of his life between her thighs, he groaned at the taste, pressed her more fully to his mouth, tongue moving. 

The one hand keeping her balanced, Eris spread her thighs further apart, inviting her to move if it would please her. His booted feet drew restlessly against the fur blankets, he wanted her to come on his mouth. 

He wanted her. 

Eris knew Cora was close as she clenched her thighs around him. He kept his hands on her, felt her muscles tense and he made a soft sound as she pulled away entirely. 

There were skirts in his mouth, he realised, just as Cora’s knee roughly knocked into the side of his head, a short burst of pain shooting into his temple. She kicked him in the gut in her effort to move away and Eris grunted at the contact of her foot against him. 

“The torches,” she breathed, her voice a whispered hiss. 

Eris barely understood what she was saying, his mind a mess, desire making it hard for him to think straight. She was adjusting her skirts, fixing her sleeves.  

“What about them?” Eris asked, eyes tracking her movements as he sat up. He licked his lips, fighting the urge to moan as he tasted her on his tongue. 

“They did something strange,” she was content to ignore the burning gaze he cast on her, looking instead towards the doors and paying attention to the flames flickering rather normally on the other side of the small room. 

“The fire reacts to me,” he said, a snarl entering his tone as he placed a broad hand on her small waist and pulled her towards him. His chest was rising and falling like he had been drowning and was drawing his first breath of air. “It reacts to me, reacting to you.” 

She rolled her eyes, as though she did not believe a single word he said. She ran a cool finger under the fabric of his collar. “I worry someone might see us.” 

“Don’t,” Eris mumbled as she deliberately began to undo the buttons of his waistcoat. She did so expertly, dragging it from his shoulders where it fell onto the mattress in a careless heap. 

Through the lighter fabric of his shirt, Eris felt as Cora’s hand lingered on his back. Her nails caught on the raised skin there. 

Lashes. 

He had whispered the word to Cora when she had paused at the feel of them the first night he had gotten her into his bed. She had pulled away just enough to hold his gaze, had searched his face for answers but was met with the expressionless mask he had long ago mastered. 

Punishments.

Cora had correctly guessed, he had witnessed the shift in her demeanour at the realisation, although she had said nothing. The lovers he took were usually Autumn born and raised, were usually well aware of the way the High Lord treated each of his sons. Still, Eris had felt as though Cora had become a bit more gentle, that she had held him like he was a piece of glass, easily breakable. 

“Eris,” she said softly, pulling him from his thoughts as she placed a kiss just below his jaw only to tug the shirt from where he had carefully tucked it. Her fingers traced the muscles of his stomach as he cupped the back of her head to keep her close. When she reached the laces at his pants, undoing them swiftly, he felt his lips part as she touched him. 

He wished she would say his name again, but he did not complain as she kissed him deeply, their tongues fighting for dominance as she wrapped delicate fingers around his length. His hands once again went under her skirts, fingers searching when he heard his best friend’s voice in the corridor. 

“Lady Elain Archeron,” Lethe said loudly, the name echoing with a hint of magic. It was his request for her to keep watch, but Eris instantly regretted it. 

Cora pushed herself away from him once more and Eris snarled his annoyance, wishing his little brother’s mate had retired for the evening. 

“I told you the torches had done something strange,” Cora accused, tossing his waistcoat for him to catch. She stumbled on the edge of the carpet as she rushed to put on her shoes, cursing him under her breath.

Eris ran fingers through his hair to ensure that no strand was out of place, adjusting his clothes to perfection and using his magic to scatter the scent of their still burning arousal. 

“Find me when she leaves,” Eris offered, hoping Cora would join him later. He would have hated to use his hand to find pleasure after their encounter. He unlocked the door, pausing with his fingers gripping the handle. Cora shuffled behind him, skirts ruffling, and he waited with bated breath for her response. 

Cora walked towards him quickly, each action rushed so she could throw him out of her room before Elain arrived to knock on the door. She reached out, no hesitation in the gesture as she grabbed onto his arm. Eris watched as she got onto the very tips of her toes, following her lead when she pulled down on his sleeve. He had to bend at the waist, practically bowing for her, so that she could place the softest of kisses onto his cheek. “I make no promises,” she murmured, letting her fingers trail down towards his wrist, her thumb stroking the skin there absently before she moved away from him with a playful shove in the direction of the hallway. 

Eris felt his entire face heat, and he bit the inside of his lip, frustrated with his uncommon lack of self control. He hoped Cora could not see the scarlet blush he was sure would reveal his slight attachment to her. 

Eris could hardly remember the last time someone had been so gentle with him, could hardly remember needing anyone’s affection. He said nothing, was unable to face her, so he merely schooled his features into a serious mask. 

Eris opened the oak door roughly and stepped past the stone archway, mind whirling with thoughts of Cora, only to crash bodily into Elain Archeron.

[acourtofthought]

You often mention that because Lucien already lost Jesminda — someone he believed to be his mate — he won’t lose his mate again (Elain). That Sarah wouldn’t do that to him.

But have you considered that this could also be the very reason why Lucien doesn’t want or need a mate, and may not end up with Elain?

Think about it: Lucien loved Jesminda. He mourned her death for centuries. Now that it’s revealed that Jesminda isn’t actually her mate… and Elain is… do you think Lucien somehow loves Jesminda less? Or views their past relationship in a lesser manner? I doubt it.

If anything, it would prove to Lucien that in the grand scheme of things, a mating bond has little bearing on true love.

Jesminda, as per canon: had loved Lucien “without question” and “without hesitation.” Jesminda had “chosen” him.

Elain, as per canon: is only involved with Lucien because of the mating bond that neither asked for (basically a glorified arranged marriage). There is question, and there is certainly hesitation. When it came down to it in ACOSF, Elain chose Azriel, not Lucien.

Jesminda wasn’t Lucien’s mate, but loved him with all she had. Elain is Lucien’s mate… and seemingly wants nothing to do with him. Again, wouldn’t this just prove to Lucien that a mating bond really means… fuck all?

An apt comparison is to the Rowan/Lyria/Aelin saga. Although Rowan loved Lyria (and even once believed they were mates), when it came down to it, Rowan later reflected that he and Lyria were such different people, and were never that compatible in the first place.

“He'd come to love Lyria--that had been true. And the guilt of it ate him alive whenever he thought of it, but he could understand now. Why Lyria had been so frightened of him for those initial months, why it had been so damn hard to court her, even with that mating bond, its truth unknown to Lyria as well. She had been gentle, and quiet, and kind. A different sort of strength, yes, but not what he might have chosen for himself.”

Doesn’t that sound familiar…?

Instead, Rowan found his match in Aelin. From the start, even when they were arguing and bickering and cruel to one another, there was always a spark. Always passion.

In the same way Vassa and Jesminda (who we know Lucien adored) are described in the same way. Compatible. Lucien is lighter around Vassa. He found a home with her, when no one else offered him one (including Elain).

And never once was Rowan blushing around other women, or travelling to nearby continents to save other women while Aelin remained at home… as Lucien was for Vassa.

Never once was Aelin near kissing other men, or buying other men gifts while Rowan was in the same house… as Elain was for Azriel.

“A bird of flame ... and a lord of fire. I wondered if they'd found each other yet."

Why would SJM say that for it to lead to… nothing?

So what I just gathered from that is your acknowledgement that it took Rowans real mate to help him finally move past his sadness and guilt with Lyria (who he believed was his mate), and eventually fall in love with Aelin, his actual mate.

It also seems like it took Lucien meeting his real mate to start moving on from his guilt and past with Jesminda, who he thought was his mate. And could also eventually have a HEA with Elain, his actual mate.

For both males, it took their actual mate to move forward.

And yes, Rowan did separate from Aelin for a period of time. Just like Lucien is living elsewhere.

Are they the exact same scenarios? No but why would they be? Did Aelin have a sister that she was living with? Is Elain an assassin who had other business to deal with? These are different characters with different stories and Elucien is the only SJM pairing to have a bond snap like it did. Elain was the only character engaged and in love with someone else when that happened.

For the females:

Aelin did not have feelings for Rowan for quite a while as she was nursing broken feelings from her relationship with Chaol. Where she slept in bed with Rowan yet still did not develop romantic feelings for him.

Which is similar to Elain not jumping immediately into Lucien's arms after her fiance rejected her (something not even Aelin had). Giving her a pretty valid reason to instead focus on an innocent crush as she's overwhelmed by the enormity of her mating bond and has not really been in a place to process those feelings.

And no, Aelin didn't hook up with someone after meeting Rowan because they were planning for a war. She had other things on her mind at that time.

Nesta definitely did though! Even though she claims she always wanted Cassian.

Lucien's not just a Lord of Fire though is he? Why would SJM have Elain say she needs "sunshine" then reveal Lucien to be the heir to the Day Court? Weird how your argument works in my favor too! ☺️. Especially when my girl Elain is still the one he longs for after living with said Bird of Flame. If he's had a year to get to know Vassa yet Elain is still the one he wants I'm thinking Vassa just doesn't do it for him, sorry! 🤷

You're trying to say that because Lyria wasn't what Rowan would have chosen for himself the same can be said of Elain for Lucien except... It kind of seems like Elain is what he wants since he's still coming around despite her distance?

You can't honestly believe Lucien truly knew Elain the very first time he met during her depression which led to him thinking back on Jesminda..

He was remembering Jesminda when she was happy and free. And he had recently discovered Elain was in love with someone else and therefore he was struggling with the realization she probably wouldn't want him. Of course the two females seemed very different to Lucien in that moment. It doesn't mean Lucien didn't end up liking what he learned the more he learned of her.

And Rowan was a warrior which is why he was best suited to a mate who was also a fighter.

Lucien has no interest fighting (though he'll do it when he has to). Doesn't it stand it reason that a female who isn't a warrior, one with a different sort of strength, is the perfect fit for him? Exactly as his real mate is described?

Lyria was married to Rowan and he thought that of her. When Lucien and Elain are married, we can compare notes 😉.

Again, Lyria was his fake mate. Probably why Rowan wouldn't have chosen her.

Elain is Lucien's real mate.

And what Lucien wanted in his youth is not necessarily who he'd want now. Jesminda was wild and free and Lucien at the time would have given up his title for her. That doesn't really sound like the right fit for a grown Lucien who wants to help the courts and is set up to be a future High Lord with responsibilities.

And Az blushed at Mor while Elain was in the room. Are you trying to claim that all blushes equal endgame love interests? He blushed for Nesta in SF.

You might want to check out the TOG series because a male who wasn't Lorcan blushed at Elide.

Also, Lucien wasn't blushing at Vassa, he was blushing because Feyre was embarrassing him in front of his mate.

It's funny how e/riels come onto my page acting like Elain isn't special compared to Vassa, just to ship Lucien with anyone else.

She's Elain Fucking Archeron. The most beautiful female he'd ever seen. She's kind, wise, thoughtful, generous and loving (all words used in the series to describe her). AND she's his mate. It's very amusing that you think Vassa could top that for Lucien.

He's desired by many females but there's only one he wants.

You're also forgetting that it's not just because he lost Jesminda that I feel this way. The author was going to pair him with Nesta but didn't because she realized they'd be a poor fit. Why would she pair him with the other sister if she was also going to be a bad match for him?

That wouldn't make a lot of sense now, would it?

Oh! Adding an Edit:

Lucien also loved Jesminda to the point that he thought she was his mate because he had never experienced a mating bond, he was able to convince himself that what he felt was the love from a bond. Now that he knows exactly how powerful and consuming a mating bond is, how can he ever go back from that? Not only will another female never have the potential of being his mate (meaning he'll never love her to the point of thinking she could be because he knows she never will), but he will also be lacking the thread that exists between them.

He knows what a bond is now. He knows that it helps him sense Elain. That sitting with her and feeling her caused him to blush.

Once your eyes are opened up, you can't go back from that.

Knowing that Elain is his mate and understanding what a mating bond actually is means that it will be difficult for him to be without it.

I know he doesn't love Jesminda less than he once did but there will be a difference for Lucien in his first love versus his forever love, especially once he shares a bond with. It's silly to think that just because he believed something in his youth, he can easily go back to that after centuries and the new experience he's gathered with having a real mating bond with someone.

And Vassa and Jesminda are the furthest thing from similar. Jesminda was "laughter and mischief". Please show me where you've gotten hints of that from Vassa's character.

[fluffy-cloudz]

top 5 fave ACOTAR characters ranked?

thanks for the ask!!!!! this is actually tough for me because i know my top 2 but the rest are kinda.... "¯\_(ツ)_/¯" to me

Lucien

Nesta - I know it seems like everyone's reasoning for loving her is because they can somehow relate to her, but like, it's true. She was refreshing to me. I was skeptical at first because I didn't want to let go of Feyre's POV, but I was surprised at how much Nesta grew on me. Then when I got on the ACOTAR world-wide-web and saw all the Nesta hate I just became kinda protective of her and now she just holds a special little place in my heart.

Probably... Cassian? - I've seen all the Nessian hate. I don't agree with some, and then some I can understand, however I've always liked Cassian individually. He's my favorite bat boy to date. Also fun fact, my first fan fic I EVER wrote (it never saw the light of day though) was a CassianxOC fic based off of a dream I had lmao. So yeah i guess you could say Cassian is up there for me.

Gwyn/Emerie - Is it okay if I put them together? Because for both of their characters... what is not to love? They have literally not done a single thing to piss me off. They also seem like people I'd love to be friends with IRL. I loved the addition of them to the series and would love to see more from them in future books.

Feyre - soooo she's done things to piss me off FOR SURE, but that doesn't mean I don't love her. Home girl introduced me to this series and I had a ROUGH time letting go of her POV for ACOSF. I also love how she is a bit of a softer FMC. I really struggled with Bryce and even Aelin in SJM's other books, but Feyre felt a bit more grounded to me, and like someone I could see myself being friends with. I also adore and miss book 1 Feyre.

And now for a message from my legal team:

Our client, as a self-proclaimed Elucien stan, would like to put forth a message for the record regarding the absence of one Miss. Elain Archeron's character from the above top 5 ranking. Miss. Archeron's character's potential, as well as certain versions of her character depicted in various fan fiction works, would likely be included in the ranking above. However, based off of the current on-page existing content of the middle Archeron sister, she does not quite make the top 5 ranking in comparison to existing content of other characters in the series. Our client would like to state for the record that this does not mean she dislikes Miss. Archeron in anyway, rather on the contrary, she enjoys Miss. Archeron's character as she is currently and looks forward to further development with her story immensely. Due to "people being psychotic gatekeepers of Elain's character and kinda crazy for no reason" our client wished to put forth a formal disclaimer following her above stated selections. Thank you.

[lovemyromance]

I like how Elriels don't have to read 30 other SJM (and non-SJM) books to understand the connection Elain has with Azriel. It's on the page, in black and white. There's no twisting of words or reached for foreshadowing or claims of extrapolation going on. We use current canon moments that already prove Elain & Azriel are into each other.

Anti-Elriels, on the other hand, are out here doing the MOST to both disprove Elriel moments and trying to tie together any two random theories in an effort to point to some scrap of "evidence" in favor of their ship.

For example, Elriels often point to the TT & Hybern rescue in ACOWAR to show how Azriel cares for Elain. Even more explicitly stated, in his own POV VC, Azriel is ready to get on his knees for a taste of Miss Elain Archeron.

That is explicitly stated. In the text. The logical reaction would be....to believe what is printed on the page LOL???

Antis will see that moment-read it-process it- and then immediately add on a "Well-but actually".

Meaning, they'll say something like

"Well he might've offered her Truthteller... but actually Cassian offered her a knife too."

"Well he might've saved her from Hybern - but actually Cassian said they'll save Elain first"

"Well, he might've been begging on his knees to try to taste Elain - but actually it's just lust."

Every single Elriel moment they've had some kind of defense for. Everything has to be disproven ... in order to pave the way for their ship.

They are out here trying to disprove explicitly stated moments in the text... while at the same time turning around and saying stuff like:

"Elain asked for sunlight... she asked for Lucien... because Lucien's name means light and he's the heir to the Day Court."

"Something sparked in Azriel's chest... he and Gwyn are mates."

Like how are they out here saying the most - despite having zero things explicitly stated in the text. Y'all are relying on THEORIES while trying to disprove ACTUAL Elriel moments.

Like I'm sorry, but it's a little ridiculous. That's like if I saw "Elain & Lucien are mates" and said

"No actually they're not because Lucien just wants a mate. He thought Jessiminda was his mate and he loved her for so long that now that he has an actual mate he doesn't actually love Elain he really just wants a mate."

"No actually they're not mates bc azriel let out a cry before Elain got dunked in the cauldron - therefore he was crying out for her clearly. And so Lucien & Elain aren't real mates"

Or when "Lucien is compared to flames and Vassa is a firebird so he can't be with Elain because clearly like calls to like so..."

I was gonna include more Gwynriel & Elucien positive, could be romantic (if you squint and forget all you know about romance) moments but they literally don't HAVE any

Like I could sit here and make so many illogical arguments to act like what's canon isn't canon.

But I don't have to. Because Elriel has actual moments together that confirm their growing feelings for each other. The BC gives us an added layer of conflict and forbidden love trope. The talk of rejected mates in the books is foreshadowing that we might explore that plotline as well. The setup is all there, and people are just refusing to see it at this point.

[elainsgirl]

I was pretty ambiguous about Lucien’s character and the Gwyneriel ship.. as long as elain was happy I didn’t really care. But Lucien and Gwyneriel fans really pushed me towards Elriel..

Like what do you mean Elain owes Lucien an apology? What do you mean Lucien is too good for Elain and elain needs to get on her knees for forgiveness? According to them, Lucien is this little baby that needs to be coddled and elains this evil, apathetic woman. Are we forgetting that Lucien literally helped kidnap elain and did nothing while she was unwillingly turned into a fae? Are we forgetting that he did nothing as Jurian made a disgusting joke about elain? Are we forgetting that Lucien is a grown man who’s hundreds of years old while elain is still in her twenties?

Not to mention Gwyneriel. I like gwyn - I think she’s a good character. But I can’t stand the headcanons that people make of her becoming Nyx’s mother/favorite person, that she’s going to show Feyre how to mother her own child and snatch nyx away from her because only she can calm him down, that Rhys will go gwyn over his own wife because gwyn understands him better. And don’t forget gwyns going to yell and shame elain and Feyre for not being good sisters while everyone applauds in the background and Azriel swoons… like c’mon.

Ever since I’ve read that I’m firmly Elriel. Elain doesnt owe anyone anything - especially not Lucien or gwyn a woman she doesn’t even know. Elain is Nyx’s aunt - not gwyn. If anyone is going to take care of nyx, (outside Feyre of course) it’s going to be Feyre’s sister elain..

It’s like people have this fantasy about elain/Feyre being humiliated and humbled all to prop up their fav characters. It honestly rubs me the wrong way. Idk… all I want is for elain and Feyre to be happy. I know that they both made mistakes, but you would think that they were worse than Aramantha with how some people treat them. With how the fandom constantly vilifies them, I want SJM to give them the best ending ever.

Twins.

Antis pushed me towards being firmly elriel. I actually didnt even care that much, like you, I just loved Elain and wanted her to be happy, however I soom quckly learnt how many eluciens actually hated Elain and only wanted her to make sure Lucien gets his happy ending bcs they couldn’t fanthom anything outside of mates = the only way to remain eternally happy. I would constantly see takes of how Elain needed to grovel (🤢) for Lucien yet when you asked what has she done wrong…”she’s so mean to him!” “She didnt give him a chance!” “She’s leading him on” (? Didnt know avoiding a man and shrinking back around him gave off the impression your interested) you get the gist. As someone who loved Elain, these takes would just irritate me and I would find myself defending elain from stans that claimed to “love” her so much…which they do. The fanon version of Elain they’ve curated for their ship. The elain that will be friends with Vassa/Jurian, bicker & be sassy with Lucien, Elain that will follow Lucien wherever he goes - basically its a version of Elain thats in the background whilst her mate is the centre of attention. Eluciens wanted Elain to get jealous over Lucien, to be humbled for what she lost and get karma for “hurting” Luciens feelings. Recently, they’re accusing her off cheating on Lucien? When eluciens say they love elain, in my experience- they love her on their terms. Not the way she currently is and how her story is set upto go. You’re just speaking facts after facts, Lucien isn’t a saint. Yes he has had trauma. But again, he is not perfect. Him not defending elain when Jurian made 2 disgusting jokes about her was already icky. But then him becoming besties with the man ? Elain deserves better.

ahh. The gwynification of the fandom…that fic still haunts me where Gwyn basically takes Nyx of Feyre and soothes him, telling Feyre off for not knowing how to handle him properly whilst everyone just looked around in awe, including Lucien which made Elain seethe with jealousy. I read acosf and liked Gwyns character. She was strong, empowering, just a beautiful well rounded character. Her stans however? Put me completely off Gwyn, I still dont like interacting with content about her bcs they’re mostly putting Elain down. Gwyn’s character has literally been dragged in a love square she isn’t apart off and her whole character is now about Azriel which is just sad considering she has shown 0 interest in him romantically.

Facts: Elain owes Lucien nothing. They’re not in a relationship. She can do whatever she pleases with who she pleases just as Lucien can do the same. Feyre & Gwyn arent close. Gwyn isnt going to suddenly become Nyz’s favourite babysitter or auntie when he’s been blessed with two aunts that will love him so much. Two aunts Feyre loves and trusts. Gwyn isn’t going to be apart of the IC - she’s Nesta’s friend.

You worded it perfectly anon. People want to see Feyre and Elain get knocked off a peg or two and it doesn’t make sense as to why. They’re both flawed yet are absolute sweethearts. Two characters that have been through so much and more then deserve their happy ending which Mass will definitely give to them.

Feyre’s made her found family whilst healing her relationship with her sisters. She’s mated to a man that would put her above everyone else and would lay down his own life for her. She’s made friends that love her for who she is. And now has a beautiful son that will adore his mother.

Elain has a beautiful friendship with the twins. She spends her day doing what she loves whilst being adored by everyone around her. She has two of the most wanted bacherlors both wanting her. One risked his life to save her whilst the other is her mate.

Both girls will have the best lives despite what their haters might manifest otherwise.

[separatist-apologist]

How are you deciding the new Elucien authors?

Wonderful question!

So when we began, @the-lonelybarricade went through the archive and created a spreadsheet with the following criteria:

authors had to have published their FIRST elucien fic within the last year (so when the previous elucienweek ended to now)

Elain and Lucien needed to be the MAIN pairing

The fics had to be published to AO3 (we know people publish other places but it wasn't possible to scour every possible platform)

the fics had to be published in english (the language we can read. If you have a fic you published within this criteria but not in english and you'd like to be included AND you're seeing this, reach out to me and I'll get you added with a little translation help)

After that, I began going through the fics both to read them and to exclude fics that technically fit, but don't, if that makes sense? So some fics are technically an authors first elucien fic but are like, outtakes of a fanfiction in which elucien is in the background- we did exclude those simply because the goal is to read elucien-centric works and not other pairings that feature elucien?

After after that, LB made the graphic you've been seeing, and I've been adding all the text. It's just random, now. I am literally just working my way down the sheet in order people were added (again, random). If you wrote an elucien fanfic for the first time and published it to the archive and it meets those characteristics, you WILL see yourself sometime between this morning and the first day of elucien week. But if you're worried, you can always DM me for confirmation and I'd be HAPPY to confirm if we have you (or add you if we don't!). LB and I plan to go back through the archive in two weeks for anyone else that published after we began this list.

[jules-writes-stories]

Thank you so so much for tagging me @zenkindoflove (I think you tagged me lol, I can't remember now) and @fieldofdaisiies

1. How many works do you have on AO3? I'm a baby fan fic writer, so only 5! (but I have 3 more WIP on the way...)

2. What’s your total AO3 word count? <- BABY. How do I figure this out? I mean, other than mathing?

3. What fandoms do you write for? ACOTAR

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Just Enough Light to Cast Shadows | Azris

Held Close, Like a Secret | Azris

Into the Night | Azris

Heart of Gold | Elucien

Valkyrie | Emerie

5. Do you respond to comments? Always! I love engaging with readers.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Angst is necessary to any longer fic, but I rarely play for keeps, at least where my OTPs are concerned. The saddest fic I've written is probably my Eris Week fic "Monster" which isn't posted yet. But even that ends on a hopeful note (I think?).

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? I'm pretty proud of my ending of Into the Night, my Azris retelling of Hades x Persephone.

8. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? I do, but only included in a larger work. I've written Azris, OCs, and Elucien... and maybe a little LoA/Helion that might be coming in future JEL chapters (spoiler lol).

9. Do you write crossovers? Not yet

10. Have you ever had a fic translated? Nope

11. Have you ever co-written a fic before? Not yet, but sounds fun

12. What is your all-time favorite ship? Azris! I have a soft spot for elucien, and Helion/LoA. Oh! And Thesan and his Peregryn. I want to write them so badly! I didn't follow directions for this question. Sorry. Azris is my OTP.

13. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? This summer I started writing Amarantha's origin story, and I really want to finish it, but I keep getting sidetracked. Stories gnaw away at me until I get them out though, so I generally finish what I start. It's a sickness.

14. What are your writing strengths? I don't know? I've been told I write dialogue well. Sometimes I will act out character interactions because that's totally normal. I like descriptions too. Not sure I'm good at it, but I love a metaphor lol.

15. What are your writing weaknesses?  My comfort zone is with short fiction and poetry, so I worry about timing/not having a good enough plot/arc for longer fics.

16. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? It is fun, but hard. I speak several languages (poorly) so I try to sprinkle words in that I know.

17. First fandom you wrote for? I'm a trembling new born FF writer, so, ACOTAR. But long time reader. My first fan fic was maybe Harry Potter? (Surprise! A little Drarry grew up to be an Azris, lol)

18. Favorite fic you’ve written? Just Enough Light to Cast Shadows is the love of my life, but I'm really proud of my Eris Week fic Monster, which I'm posting for Day 3!

No pressure tags (and sorry if you've already been tagged): @the-darkestminds @c-starstuff-man0 @unanswered-stars @mistandmemories @chunkypossum

[spiritedstars]

Tales of the Fox & the Fawn - III

Season I - A series of short snippets to fill my Elucien heart.

Masterlist

Territorial and Proud

It wasn’t that Elain didn’t like Vassa. The enchanted queen was very friendly and pleasant.

But she had a very loud personality and made Lucien laugh.

She made Lucien laugh a lot and while Elain always wanted Lucien in a good mood and laughing, she didn’t like it when other females made him laugh. Constantly.

It also didn’t help that Vassa’s visit came around the time of their mating frenzy, which had barely passed.

So it wasn’t that Elain didn’t like her. She actually liked her quite a bit! They would absolutely become the closest of friends. It was just that...she found herself a tad territorial around her mate. In that irrational way the mating frenzy could make a person.

And in Elain’s humble opinion, Vassa had over-welcomed her stay.

So the logical thing was to remind the very nice, very friendly queen, that she needed to go home. This logical thing included no pants.

Elain’s bare feet padded softly down the stairs and into the hall, towards the dining area of the House of Wind where she knew they would all be. By they, she meant everyone and by everyone, she specifically meant Lucien and Vassa.

She ran her fingers through her loose hair, letting it fall over her shoulder and down her back as she fixed Lucien’s tunic on her frame. She swam in it, the sleeve falling off one shoulder, and only reaching her mid-thighs. It smelled like their scents mixed together and if that wasn’t encouragement enough for the others to scatter on sight, Elain already had another way in mind.

She didn’t even have to say a word when she came into the room. She knew she had Lucien’s attention instantly, knew she had everyone’s attention now but Elain chose to head to the dining table that had an array of finger food arranged on it instead. The silence that followed her entrance merely confirmed to her that indeed, she had left everyone speechless.

Human Elain would’ve fainted at the sight of this Elain. But this Elain had shed human etiquette a long time ago.

“Dove. You seem to be forgetting something.”

Lucien’s voice was breathless in her ear. His face was flushed as he stood in front of her, shielding her from everyone else’s sight. Her gaze dropped down to the crotch of his pants where his arousal was evident and Elain met his gaze again with a coy smile.

“No. I’m not forgetting anything.”

“You’re not wearing any pants.”

“I’m not wearing panties either.”

“Elain.”

“Does it bother you that I’m not wearing anything but your shirt?” she asked, innocently blinking at him, shifting a little so that she was once again in full view of their audience. She watched him run a hand over his lips.

“Not in the slightest.” he replied quietly, shifting in front of her once more. “I’m just trying to figure out why you’re doing it in front of everyone else.”

“Because I like people to know that I’m yours. And that you’re mine.” Elain replied. Her eyes flickered to the table then back to him and she smiled, shifting again. “Do you think people would know that if we fucked on the table?”

She saw, felt, and heard his breath hitch and Elain knew he was seconds away from whining.

“Elain.” he begged, his body in front of hers, shielding her away from the others once more. “People already know about us, dove. We have nothing to prove.”

“Who said anything about proving to anyone?” she questioned with a quirked brow. “What if I just want you to fuck me on this table? Right here, right now.”

Lucien’s fists clenched, the scent of their arousal taking over the room and Elain was vaguely aware of their said audience trying to scatter away from them as quickly as possible.

“We have guests.” he said quietly, pinching the bridge of his nose and she giggled.

“They can watch.” she replied and tugged gently at the end of his tunic. Her cheeks heated at her own bold words. “I don’t mind.”

Lucien growled, his control finally snapping. The table had been cleared — Rhys seemed to know what would happen next — and Lucien had Elain sprawled on the table in the next second, a whimper slipping from her lips as he tore at the tunic, the shirt falling open – like Elain was a gift he was meant to unwrap.

“When I fuck you, dove,” he began, spreading her legs, his hands slowly trailing up and down her body. “I am the only one who gets the privilege of watching you unravel.”