Something that stuck with me in ACOSF for no damn reason:
When we find out Feyre is pregnant, Cassian and Azriel discuss whether or not they want children one day.
โOf course I want children.โ Heโd contemplated it often, what manner of family heโd build for himself, how heโd make sure his children never spent a moment thinking they were unloved and unwanted; never, ever spent a moment hungry or scared or cold or in pain.
At this point, Cassian and Nesta arenโt an item, but they have established they have feelings for one another. They have their whole interaction in ACOWAR about not having enough time together and then in ACOFAS the emotional gift exchange.
But no female had ever come along whoโd tempted him enough to fight for that future. He supposed, deep down, that was what he was holding out for: the mating bond.
Nesta hasnโt reciprocated his passion to pursue what they have. He wants a healthy relationship like what he sees with Feysand first. But regardless, he has put a lot of thought into what would make him want children. Heโs put a lot of thought into how he wants to raise them.
Now letโs look at Azriel. His response to the question about if he wants children is:
โI donโt know,โ Azriel said.
โDo you want a child?โ
โIt doesnโt matter what I want.โ Distant wordsโones that prevented Cassian from prying further. He was still happy to be Morโs buffer with Azriel, but thereโd been a change lately. In both of them. Mor no longer sat beside Cassian, draped herself over him, and Azriel โฆ those longing glances toward her had become few and far between. As if heโd given up. After five hundred years, heโd somehow given up. Cassian couldnโt think why.
Cassianโs inner dialogue here leads us to believe that Azriel has moved on from Morrigan โ albeit reluctantly. And we know that he has his sights set on Elain, because in the bonus chapter we get that gift exchange/almost kiss/Azrielโs thoughts on what comes next.
Regardless, even with someone new in the picture for him, Azriel has no idea what type of future he wants. He decides that it doesnโt matter what he wants.
SJM has laid out something here.
Two characters who have prospective love interests.
One has a future in mind for himself with a nameless/faceless person.
The other doesnโt even know.
Itโs very clear to me that if Elain were Azrielโs endgame or if he was as serious about pursuing her as people like to believe, then this scene would have featured Azriel pondering his future in a more positive light. With cautious optimism rather than this sort of hollow uncertainty we see.
I usually donโt psychoanalyze this closely, but the parallels between him and Cassian who, at this point, have the same relationship status is staggering.
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