“How can I possibly be his mate?” Mates were equals—matched, at least in some ways.”
- Feyre in ACOMAF when she found out she was rhysand’s mate
SJM has implied many times that mates are supposed to be equals or matched in a way or atleast share similar qualities
Feysand
“Not consort, not wife. Feyre is High Lady of the Night Court.” My equal in every way;”
Rhysand and Feyre are High lord and lady of the night court, equal and matched in that way
Nessian
“You plan on leading an army, Nes?”
“Not an army.” She glanced sidelong at him. “But perhaps a small unit of females.”
She was dead serious. “The priestesses?”
“I don’t know if they’d join, but … There are others out there, I’m sure, who might. I’m immortal now, or as close to it as possible. I have nothing but time to plan far into the future.”
Cassian is the general of the night court, leading the night court’s army
Nesta leading the growing valkyrie unit, becoming a general for the valkyries
Both leaders
(I can imagine Cassian leading the illyrians into battle and nesta beside him leading the valkyries for the first time into battle too in future books especially since sjm has been hinting towards it:
“Nesta sometimes wondered if they would ever see battle.” )
Gwynriel:
“Carynthian, the ones who scale the summit and are considered elite warriors. Touching the stone atop Ramiel is to win the Rite. Only a dozen warriors in the past five centuries have reached the mountain.”
Azriel being one of the 12 carynthians in the past five centuries
Gwyn being the first non illyrian carynthian
.
“Four fucking days,” Cassian hissed from where he and Azriel monitored the castle. “We’ve been sitting on our asses for four fucking days.”
Azriel sharpened Truth-Teller. The black blade absorbed the dim sunlight trickling through the forest canopy above. “It seems you’ve forgotten how much of spying is waiting for the right moment. People don’t engage in their evil deeds when it’s convenient to you.”
Cassian rolled his eyes. “I stopped spying because it bored me to death. I don’t know how you put up with this all the time.”
“It suits me.” Azriel didn’t halt his sharpening, though shadows gathered around his feet.
-
“She smiled crookedly at Nesta. “I kept to the trees the first two nights, watching the beasts, and I spotted that horrible male and his companions this morning. Saw they’d found my nightgown and displayed it, and I knew they were hunting for you. I thought I’d take them out before they could find you.”
Azriel is the spymaster of the night court and he says spying is all about patience and waiting for the right moment, and the fact it suits him
Gwyn patiently waiting 2 days observing the beasts, waiting for the perfect moment to attack
Both having spy-like traits
(i can see them partnering up to go on espionage missions in their book)
(also not going to mention the fact they’re very competitive!!)
In short, mates are supposed to share similar qualities, and be matched in one way or another
and SJM has definitely made it clear enough the matches