Listen, as an Elriel, I would be a lot less confident in my ship going up against "FATED MATES 🤩"
.... if SJM hadn't literally written an entire series and planned a crossover to show us the cauldron is corrupt.
... if SJM hadn't consistently spoken about how maybe nature chooses wrong
... if SJM hadn't herself written that not all fated mates work out (cough Rhys's parents)
Like these are not theories or headcanons Elriels made up to weaken "the all consuming power of a mating bond".
SJM wrote fated mates, and then also wrote it doesn't always work out. If that's not evidence for Elriel, then idk what yall think it is.
The thing is….fated mates is a turnoff to me unless there’s love/attraction first. If not, I’m immediately believing it’s all forced. You could not change my mind.
We didn’t know Feyre and Rhysand were mates. We fell in love with their banter and relationship that grew.
Nesta and Cassian had tension (the good kind, not the uncomfortable kind cough cough) from their first meeting.
Aelin and Rowan went through their own shit and fell in love.
Elain and Lucien were forced together as strangers, and do not want to be mated. Disgusting.
