Choose to be Kind

[lyaren]

And so Elriel month 2024 begins...

Thank you Bloomsbury for the Elriel hint: pink, cobalt blue, and purple!

[lyaren]

Secret Love & Beauty

Azriel POV - ACOSF: "The golden faelight shone through the little glass facets, setting the charm glowing with hues of red, pink, and white."

@Bloomsbury Books shows us it’s obvious by the color scheme….the next book is Elain’s….and Nesta knows Azriel’s secret is his to tell.

[lyaren]

Inside ACOTAR

Today.com article on SJM book universe explained. Updated 1/25/24

"So while this is a Crescent City book, Its protagonist has landed in the ACOTAR world- so we'll expect to see how all these characters intertwine. (Particularly how Elain's fated mate shakes out, but that's a much longer story for another day.)"

Elriel's keep winning!

[gracie-rosee]

“I’d never seen his hazel eyes so bright, the hues of green amid the brown and gray like veins of emerald.”

Anyways do y’all ever just think about how Elain caused this. We got the most beautiful description of Azriel’s eyes for the first time and it was Elain who gave it to us. Thank you Elain.

[lyaren]

Emerald can also represent a faithful relationship and strong natural connection with a partner. Some believe that the emerald can reveal true love and bring partners closer together. Emerald is known to be the stone of faithful, deep and mature love.

[lyaren]

Rescue, Toes & Kisses

When the male purposely decides to risk his life to rescue the female, and it ends with a kiss…foreshadowing an EPIC romance between the couple!

Empire of Storms: Elide & Lorcan

She didn’t know why she said it, why she felt a need or like it was worth anything to him at all, but Elide stood on her toes, kissed his stubble-rough cheek, and said, “I will always find you, too, Lorcan.”

ACOWAR: Elain & Azriel

Azriel gently removed the gag from her mouth. “Are you hurt?” She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. “You came for me.” The shadowsinger only inclined his head.

The gray light of morning had broken over the world, mist clinging to our ankles as we headed into that camp, Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest. He dripped blood behind him the entire time—

Azriel rasped swaying on his feet, “We need Helion to get these chains off of her.” Elain did not notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsinger’s cheek.  

[azrielslight]

AZRI(EL)AIN

the ending of one of their name is the beginning of the other and people still think they aren’t endgame?

[lyaren]

Yet another clue showing that Elriel is endgame! 

Kudos to  @Azrielslight for this Elriel are soulmates find! 

[lyaren]

A study in cobalt

Elain’s  ex-fiancée, Cauldron assigned mate, and love interest Azriel, share something in common - cobalt.

ACOMAF

Azriel: No, it was to hold in place the large, depthless cobalt stone that graced the back of the gauntlet.

(Feyre and Rhys meet with the Bone Carver) But if he knew … I turned again to the boy-creature. “There was a choice—in Death,” I said. Those eyes guttered with cobalt fire.

Elain rasped, “Nice to meet you,” before hustling after her, the silk skirts of her cobalt dress whispering over the parquet floor.

(Nuala and Cerridwen dress Feyre) “Wraiths?” I twisted in the seat before the vanity. “I thought they were High Fae.” “Half,” Amren said, surveying my turquoise, cobalt, and white clothes. “Wraiths are nothing but shadow and mist, able to walk through walls, stone—you name it.

ACOWAR

Lucien: He’d healed since that day on the ice—not a sign of the gut-wound Cassian had given him. His red hair was unbound, a silken drape over his well-tailored cobalt jacket.

Helion: He gave Mor an extra glance, lips curving in sensual amusement. He was resplendent today in robes of cobaltedged in gold that offset his gleaming brown skin, golden sandals upon his feet.

And one … one of mortal men in iron armor. Bearing a cobalt flag with a striking badger. Graysen’s crest.

ACOFAS

Though the cobalt Siphons were proof that his Illyrian heritage ran true, even the rich lore of that warrior-people, my warrior-people, did not have an explanation for where the shadowsinger gifts came from.

ACOSF

Vassa straightened, her cobalt jacket a sharp contrast to the red-gold of her hair.

[lyaren]

Kindred Spirits - Smiles

ACOMAF

“My sister Elain can convince anyone to do anything with a few smiles.”

But Azriel’s attention was on my sister, a polite, bland smile on his face. Her shoulders loosened a bit. I wondered if Rhys’s spymaster often got his information through stone-cold manners as much as stealth and shadows.

[offtorivendell]

You can't convince me that this isn't Azriel's fantasy about Elain 🦇🌸

He needed to know what the skin of her neck tasted like. What those perfect lips tasted like. Her breasts. Her sex. He needed her coming on his tongue—

... How that beautiful face might appear as he entered her, what sounds she'd make.

This meme is for Day 4 of @azrielshadowsingerweek - Romance.

Please don't screenshot and share without credit.

[lyaren]

Thank you @offtorivendell​

[lyaren]

BRIGHT

ACOWAR - Elain

That smile grew, bright enough that it lit up even Azriel’s shadows across the room. “I would like to build a garden,” she declared. “After all of this … I think the world needs more gardens.”

Source: inspired by athena-85 BRIGHT and WHITE ROSES post and SJM Instagram post yesterday 09/06

[lyaren]

Brothers Envy

Rhysand ACOMAF

It was enough of a broken plea that I paused, yielding as his other hand again trailed lazy lines on my stomach. I can’t breathe when I look at you…Let me touch you… Because I was jealous, and pissed off … She’s mine.

Cassian ACOFAS

Cassian’s face turned uncharacteristically solemn, and he remained quiet for a moment before he said, “I get jealous sometimes. I’d never begrudge you for your happiness, but what you two have, Rhys …”

My throat tightened, and I gripped him hard around his wings, the scales of his leathers digging into my fingers. “What about you?” I asked, pulling away after a moment. “Are you … happy?” Shadows darkened his hazel eyes. “I’m getting there.”

Azriel ACOSF

Shadows darkened his eyes, full of enough pain that she couldn’t stop herself from touching his shoulder. Letting him see that she understood why he stood in the doorway, why he wouldn’t go near the fire.

He was elated for his brother, and yet…Azriel couldn’t stop it. The envy in his chest. Of Cassian and Rhys.

Elriel is the next story!

[lyaren]

Pretty Obvious

ACOSF

The Feysand and Nessian stories have been told. SJM on who the next book was about "I think it was pretty obvious" …

Azriel was nothing short of beautiful. Even with those scarred hands and the shadows that flowed from him like smoke, she’d always found him to be the prettiest of the three males who called themselves brothers.

When human, Elain had easily been the prettiest of the three of them, and when she’d been turned High Fae, that beauty had been amplified. Nesta couldn’t put her finger on what changes had been wrought beyond the pointed ears, but Elain had gone from lovely to devastatingly beautiful.

“My shadows don’t like the flames so much.” A pretty lie. She’d seen Azriel before the fire plenty. But she looked at who sat close to it and knew the answer. (The feelings he has for Elain are his secret to tell.)

[lyaren]

Just a taste

Rhys ACOMAF

But mostly I just wanted to do this.” His eyes held mine as he brought those fingers to his mouth and sucked on them. On the taste of me.

Cassian ACOFAS

It seemed that sound was his undoing, for the fingers in her hair dug into her scalp, angling her head so he could better taste her, claim her.

Azriel ACOSF

It had never gone this far. They’d exchanged looks, the occasional brush of their fingers, but never this. Never blatant, unrestricted touching. Wrong-it was so wrong. He didn’t care. He needed to know what the skin of her neck tasted like. What those prefect lips tasted like. Her breasts. Her sex. He needed her coming on his tongue.

“Yes”, Elain breathed as if she read the decision. Just this taste in the dead of the longest night, where only the Mother might witness them. Azriel’s hand slid up her neck, burying in her thick hair. Tilting her face the way he wanted it. Elain’s mouth parted slightly, her eyes scanning his before fluttering shut. Offer and permission. He nearly groaned with relief and need as he lowered his head towards hers.

They choose to taste each other! Elriel is endgame.

[lyaren]

Rescue by Azriel

ACOWAR – Azriel notices Elain is missing and chooses to go after her

But Azriel asked softly, “What about Elain?” Something cold went through me. Nesta was just staring at Azriel.

Azriel stalked to my side, right into the tent where Nesta had now come to her feet. He tucked his wings in tightly as he squeezed through the narrow space, ignoring Nesta’s snarl of warning, and knelt at the cot. He ran a scarred hand over the rumpled blankets. “They’re still warm.”

From the shadows near the entrance to the tent, Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, “I’m getting her back”. Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azriel’s hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. Nesta said, “Then you will die”. Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, “I’m getting her back.”

Azriel gently removed the gag from her mouth. “Are you hurt?” She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. “You came for me.” The shadowsinger only inclined his head.

Azriel scooped up Elain, looping her bound arms around his neck. “Hold tight,” he ordered her, “and don’t make a sound.”

Azriel’s roar echoed off the rocks as the hound slammed into him, dragging those shredding talons down his spine, his wings— The girl screamed, but Elain moved. As Azriel battled to keep them airborne, keep his grip on them, my sister sent a fierce kick into the beast’s face. Its eye. Another. Another. It bellowed, and Elain slammed her bare, muddy foot into its face again. The blow struck home. With a yelp of pain, it released its claws—and plunged into the ravine.

The gray light of morning had broken over the world, mist clinging to our ankles as we headed into that camp, Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest.

Rhys lunged for Azriel, taking Elain from him and gently setting my sister down. Azriel rasped, swaying on his feet, “We need Helion to get these chains off her.”

Yet Elain didn’t seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsinger’s cheek.

ACOSF - Azriel rescues Eris

Cassian tapped the Siphons on the backs of his hands, and his remaining Siphons appeared at his shoulders, knees, and chest. He nodded to Rhys. “Winnow me to her. Az, you find Emerie and Gwyn.”

Azriel said tightly, “My spies got word that Eris has been captured by Briallyn. She sent his remaining soldiers after him while he was out hunting with his hounds. They grabbed him and somehow, they were all winnowed back to her palace. I’m guessing using Koschei’s power.”

Az said, “We have to get him out.”

Azriel grabbed Eris and shot into the skies, the Made dagger with them. They had to get it far from Koschei.

“Eris?” Cassian demanded. “Safe, and the Made dagger is in our possession again,” Azriel said, “though Eris is pissed and confused. He’s at the Hewn City.

ACOSF - Azriel rescue of priestess

(Cassian) He closed his eyes, as if reeling his rage back into himself. “I heard that Mor had brought one in. Azriel was the one who made it out there first, and he killed any of the Hybern soldiers left, but by that point …”

“Azriel slaughtered all of them within moments. He didn’t hesitate. But I could barely move, and when I tried to get up … He gave me his cloak and wrapped me in it. Morrigan arrived a few minutes later, and then Rhysand appeared, and it became clear some of the soldiers had gotten away with the piece of the Cauldron, so Azriel headed after them. Mor healed me as best she could, then brought me to the library.

ACOSF - Azriel chooses to continue to protect Elain

Nesta saw the blow land, like a physical impact, in Elain’s face, her posture. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike.

Azriel stiffened. “I know. I helped rescue Elain, after all.” Az hadn’t so much as hesitated before going into the heart of Hybern’s war-camp.

Feyre said, “We won’t allow any harm to come to Elain. Rhys warded her this morning, and we have eyes on her at all times.” “Eyes can be blinded,” Nesta said. “Not the ones under my command,” Azriel said with soft menace. Nesta met his stare, knowing he was the only one aside from Feyre who could truly understand her hesitation. He’d gonewith Feyre into the heart of Hybern’s camp to save Elain—he knew the risk. “We won’t make the same mistake twice.”

[lyaren]

Feeding your mate

Feyre: soup, Nesta: bread, and Elain: potatoes. The sisters offer food and the brothers grab it!

ACOMAF

It didn’t seem to make a difference. But whatever it was, the act of offering him food … I dumped some cold soup into a pan and lit the burner. “I don’t know the rules,” I said, my back to him. “So you need to explain them to me.” He lingered in the center of the cabin, watching my every move. He said hoarsely, “It’s an … important moment when a female offers her mate food. It goes back to whatever beasts we were a long, long time ago. But it still matters. The first time matters.

ACOSF

He choked. “These are my two options? A frilly mating ceremony or a stale biscuit?” Her face filled with such true light, it nearly stole the breath from him. “Yes.” So Cassian laughed again, and folded her fingers around the pathetic biscuit, leaning to whisper in her ear, “We’ll make a coronation of it, Nes.”

ACOFAS

Azriel goes feral over Elain’s potatoes. He ignores the dishes that Feyre, Nuala, and Cerridwen bring in, but blocks Cassian, an unmated male, from eating Elain’s dish first. He focused in on Elain’s potatoes as if his shadows called to him to stake a claim. He accepts the food from Elain just like a mate would do. The Cauldron may have assigned her to someone else, but Azriel is the one acting like her mate. Foreshadowing that Elriel is endgame!

“Don’t,” Elain said flatly, starting once more into a walk, veils of steam drifting past her shoulders from the roasted rosemary potatoes in her hands, as if they were Azriel’s shadows.

But Azriel only took Elain’s heavy dish of potatoes from her hands, his voice soft as night as he said, “Sit. I’ll take care of it.”

Azriel set the potatoes in the center of the table, Cassian diving right in. Or he tried to. One moment, his hand was spearing toward the serving spoon. The next, it was stopped, Azriel’s scarred fingers wrapped around his wrist. “Wait,” Azriel said, nothing but command in his voice.

[lyaren]

Cling to you

In ACOMAF, there are only 4 references using “cling to”. Three belong to Feyre and Rhys, and the last one belongs to Elain and Azriel. Feyre thinks of Azriel bringing comfort to Elain, not Nesta or Graysen, her fiancée. And Elain does just that, cling to Azriel, when he rescues her from Hybern’s camp in ACOWAR. He risked his life to find her and bring her back to safety at the risk of his own life. They cling to each other. Elriel is endgame!

ACOMAF

Standing there under the cloudless sky, the winter sun beating on my head, nothing around me save for rock, no shadows in which to hide, nothing to cling to … There it was. Then darkness swept in, soothing, gentle darkness—no, shade—and a sweat-slick male body halted before me. Gentle fingers lifted my chin until I looked up … at Rhysand’s face.

“Good,” Rhys said, and I looked behind him at the sudden urgency in his tone. Sure enough, in the castle across the bay, people were darting about. “I missed some guards,” he gritted out, grabbed both our arms, and we vanished. The dark wind was cold and roaring, and I had barely enough strength to cling to him.

“Why does anything cling to something? Maybe they love wherever they’re going so much that it’s worth it. Maybe they’ll keep coming back, until there’s only one star left. Maybe that one star will make the trip forever, out of the hope that someday—if it keeps coming back often enough—another star will find it again.”

And I think Elain—Elain would like it, too. Though she’d probably cling to Azriel, just to have some peace and quiet.”

ACOWAR

Azriel gently removed the gag from her mouth. “Are you hurt?” She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. “You came for me.” The shadowsinger only inclined his head.

Azriel scooped up Elain, looping her bound arms around his neck. “Hold tight,” he ordered her, “and don’t make a sound.”

The gray light of morning had broken over the world, mist clinging to our ankles as we headed into that camp, Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest.

[offtorivendell]

When Elain first met Azriel, she armed herself with a fork. With Truth-Teller, Azriel just completed her place setting. 🍴

[lyaren]

Azriel is Elain’s spoon. A complete set. 🍴🥄