#there's an elucien item too

[crmediagal]

A *MASSIVE* BOOK & FANDOM (ACOTAR) HAUL!!! 📚🧚 from a ✨newbie reader✨

[lamija-v]

My wrist hurts. Help.

[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.

[acourtofthought]

Bonus Chapters matter.

While they also don't.

What I mean by that is the information presented in them is important only if the author continues on with the information presented in them in the actual book that everyone has access too.

There are still people shocked to find out about the Azriel bonus from SF. Had they missed reading it, they would have never known about the almost kiss with Elain, about the regifting of the necklace, about Gwyn sparking something in Az's chest.

Nesta and Cassian shared a near kiss in the ACOMAF bonus but you know what happened after that?

We are not left questioning whether Cassian has feelings towards Nesta and we don't need the Bonus Chapter to tell us that. You can remain completely unaware that Wings and Embers exists yet still see that Cassian is drawn to her. The bonus is a fun little extra but it's not really the main source for telling us what we need to know. Without the bonus, all Elain and Az interactions drop off after Solstice. Before that, there's the question of whether there might be something between them but Az is still jealous over Mor (which we see in his interaction with Helion) and how he interrupts Nesta's question about Elain to ask about Mor. So while E/riel did share a charged look, there's enough to make us doubt exactly what it is we're seeing and SJM does not give us reason to think it was anything at all considering there are zero clues after Solstice (not on his end or hers). After Solstice, even if you had missed the Az bonus, you would have seen his banter with Gwyn become more apparent. Where Az has zero mentions of anything with either Elain or Mor related but where he shows admiration and amusement towards Gwyn and where she is sassy towards him "see you tomorrow, Shadowsinger", where Nesta tells Az he's Gwyn's new ribbon. We don't need the bonus to see that something has shifted for he and Gwyn, it's subtle but it's there. But there are Elucien clues after the Feyre bonus. In the Feyre bonus, she thinks on how if Elain had been wearing Lucien's gift from last Solstice, nothing would have pierced her. Had you not read that particular bonus you would have still seen that Lucien stares at her with longing on Solstice and how Elain is standing near Helion for the fist time ever on Starfall. Again, subtle clues but there is something there versus nothing for Az and Elain after his bonus. Elain standing next to her mates unknown father sets the stage for them to have future interactions and where Helion is, Lucien will eventually be. Sarah mentioning how Cassian and Az will still train the Valkyrie after the Rite sets them up for future interactions. But there is nothing that sets up Az and Elain for anything in the future once Solstice has passed. She's not connected to the time travel plots (Az and Gwyn are). She's not connected to Illyrian plots (Az and Gwyn are). She's not connected to the Valkyrie (Az and Gwyn are). Az is not connected to the Trove items (Elain and Lucien are). He's not connected to Koschei (Elain and Lucien are). He's not connected to Vassa (Elain and Lucien are). He's not connected to Spring (Elain and Lucien are). So again, the bonus chapter matters but it doesn't matter all that much. If SJM does not carry on the information learned in the bonus in the actual book then it's information that isn't going to matter all that much moving forward.

[fieldofdaisiies]

elain x lucien | warnings: violence, injuries | masterlist | ao3

Lucien’s senses are numb. He doesn’t know what to feel or think as he lies in bed, arms crossed beneath his head, the blanket only covering half of his body, the rest of it exposed to the chilly morning air slipping in through the partially open window. He is staring at the ceiling, the patterns of the wooden panels, his metal eye clicking with some of its movements. 

He replays the talk he had with Eris in his mind. Over and over again. How his brother looked at him, how he embraced him, almost as if welcoming him back home. Welcoming him back in the Autumn Court. And despite the little flicker of hope and appreciation Lucien has felt in his chest, he knows that no matter how hard he tries, that court would never feel like home again.

It’s his mother’s home. Eris’s home. His brothers’ home. But the Autumn Court isn’t his place to live. It carries too many awful and painful memories. He will, of course visit frequently from now on. To speak to his mother, to make up for all the time missed with his brother, to discuss important court matters and things that concern all of Prythian. But he won’t return there to stay.

Lucien lets out a deep breath, closing his eyes as they begin to burn from his endless staring. 

Within his heart there is a deep ache, a longing, not only for a place to call home but for his mate. It was easier when he and Elain weren’t close, when she always sought distance rather than closeness. Now that he knows how sweet her laugh sounds, what interests and intrigues her, how genuine and kind her soul is and what her lips taste like, it feels like an almost impossible act to stay away from her.

Partly, Lucien hates himself for even suggesting to stay apart. He knows it was for the best, for her to figure out what she really wants and not act on her desire and regret it after some time. But for him? 

It almost tears the Vanserra male apart. He wants to be with her, hold her, kiss her, hear her beguiling voice in his ears, see her smile and have her scent always wrapped around him.

Slowly opening his eyelids, Lucien allows his eyes to adapt to the dim light inside his bedroom again. It is still early in the morning, the sun has only started to rise a short while ago. He slides his hand down to his leg and realises he is not wearing his breeches but his sleeping pants. Lucien exhales an annoyed groan and flops onto his side, letting his hand dangle out of bed in hopes of being able to reach for his breeches. And success! He pulls them to him, fishing into their right pocket and when he feels the cool metal against his palm his fingers close around the small item.

continue on ao3

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[climbthemountain2020]

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Ch. 5

Ch.5/5 | Ao3

Elucien fic for this years @acotargiftexchange

Sweet @itsybitsybluesy, this has been the MOST fun! I am so glad I had you as my giftee this year, and I hope this fic has been a nice little holiday treat!

NSFW! :) This is the filthiest thing I've ever written. Happy Horny Holidays!

One Year Later

Elain POV

The snow was glimmering on the lawn of the River House, the lights reflected on its crystallized surface sending a spray of colored fractals into the shadow of the late evening. Elain looked on from the big kitchen windows, the savory smells of the dinner they’d had still surrounding her, the warmth of the kitchen kissing her skin. She hadn’t done much in the way of preparations this year, instead arriving just yesterday and spending the majority of her time catching up. She had missed the hustle and bustle a bit, used to being in a sprint the three days before Solstice for the past few years, but the trade off had been worth it.

She melted as she felt hands around her waist, encircling her as she leaned her head to the side, welcoming his warm breath on her neck.

“What’s a pretty fae like you doing all by herself on Solstice?” 

She smiled and hummed at the low words spoken into her skin. “Waiting for a handsome rake to come steal her away, I would wager.”

Lucien huffed a laugh into her skin as he pressed a kiss into her shoulder. “Are you about ready to go?”

Elain sighed, leaning her head back against his chest. “Yes, let’s start our long goodbyes and head home, if you don’t mind?” 

He pressed another kiss behind her ear and she shivered. “Not at all, love.” Her hands pulled away from the countertop to take one of his, the thrill of his warm palm against hers never becoming less breathtaking. A year had passed, and they’d made good use of every single day. Both a mating ceremony and a traditional wedding, moving her items from the room in the River House to his apartment downtown, then again to their own house in the Human Lands once it had been finished. 

They readily split their time between the two, making their place and settling roots in each, all while taking frequent trips to Day in the interim. Elain had become quite practiced at traveling in the last year, and winnowing had become one of her favorite skills. 

The two walked into the family room, hand in hand, and Elain was awash again with the joy of being here with her family. No longer did she feel stifled in this environment, and she hadn’t been able to say she was bored once since last Christmas. She smiled at the thought as she looked at her husband, her mate. 

She moved over by the fire to where Nesta sat perched on Cassian’s lap, his big hand stretched across Nesta’s growing stomach. It had been the primary topic on everyone’s minds this year, gifts abounding for the little Valkyrie that would arrive before too long. Elain had been here a bit more frequently the last few months, wanting to be there for Nesta as she prepared for the journey ahead, but she’d taken to the idea so naturally that even Elain had to admit her surprise. Nesta was glowing, and Cassian looked at her like she’d hung every star in the sky. 

Another highlight of this year had been Elain’s new niece, Nova, who was currently fast asleep in Rhysand’s arms, little tufts of onyx curls ruffling each time she let out a tiny snore. She was adorable, all cheek and porcelain skin and soft wing, and Elain’s heart ached with joy each time she got to hold her. 

Elain watched as Rhysand made his way over to Lucien, passing off the sleeping babe. “Hold her for me, will you? I want to make sure Feyre got Nyx down alright.” It wasn’t anything new. They’d all taken turns each time they visited. Nova was so used to being passed between loving arms that she didn’t even stir when she was handed off. 

“If you look any harder, Elain, perhaps your womb will do the work for you.” Elain jumped as Nesta whispered into her ear, shooting her gaze to her sister and her wicked smile. 

“Oh, hush.” She was blushing, and it only spurred Nesta on further. 

“He does look lovely with a baby, doesn’t he?” Elain nodded numbly, watching as Lucien shifted the baby expertly, cradling her head gently as he lowered himself onto the couch next to Mor. 

“What a lovely Solstice,” Emerie commented, relaxing back into the cushions on Mor’s other side.

“Mmhmm,” Mor added. “And hopefully a quieter night than last year.” Blood rushed into Elain’s cheeks, tucking her chin as she smiled. 

“Did you ever end up solving that?” Lucien asked playfully, his eyes finding Elain’s as she continued to stare. There was a playfulness in his gaze, but upon seeing how she was looking at him, his irises glazed with something more akin to hunger. 

Cassian groaned next to her, shifting Nesta as he scoffed. “No, we ended up writing it off as some restless younglings, like someone said it was the whole time . It never happened again. I told Rhys he was overreacting.”

“Just some bored fae, I’m sure,” Lucien agreed spryly, his gaze never leaving Elain. 

Just then, Feyre and Rhysand returned arm in arm. 

“Finally asleep!” 

“And, unfortunately, we won’t be far behind,” Lucien offered. Elain loved bringing him to social gatherings, if only because of how seamlessly and kindly he could press forward with their early departure. He was nothing if not an expert at courtly niceties, and Elain loved that she never had to stay a second later than she wanted. 

He brushed a soft touch over Nova’s curls as he rose, handing the sleeping baby back to her mother, and something inside Elain roared at the sight of him cradling a child. She hadn’t grown entirely used to the functions of the bond in the last year, but the urges, the possession, the need –those had become familiar enough. 

As though sensing the shift, Lucien turned back to her just as she slipped a glamour over her own body. It had been a trick that came in handy over and over in the early days of their mating. 

“Dinner was lovely.” She kissed both of Feyre’s cheeks and held her close. “Happy birthday, Feyre.” They went around the room, saying their goodbyes and Solstice tidings, but Elain couldn’t get the image of Lucien and Nova out of her head. It sat there like a vision, settling in her psyche the way her Seeing often did, until the picture shifted. It was there a moment, then gone, the image in and out before she’d barely even grasped it. Lucien, arms still full of a sleeping baby, but this one with curls of copper and not a wing in sight. 

Her breath caught. Had it been a vision?

She could see that future with him so clearly, more and more so each day they spent together. Once she’d become fae, she hadn’t been sure she’d ever wanted to become a mother anymore, hadn’t been certain it was something that she’d still want the way she once had. But with Lucien, it became more and more apparent every single day that she had been wrong. 

He had been kind with her, patient. He’d pulled out pieces of her that she’d thought were lost to time and circumstance, placing them diligently back together like the most precious of puzzles. He’d been motivating without overpowering, supportive without hovering, pushing her when she needed to be pushed and pulling back when she’d needed space. 

He’d been the best partner. 

He’d be the best father. 

Lucien made eye contact with Elain at that exact moment, the air pushing from her lungs right as the thought passed through. 

“Ready to go, love?” She nodded distantly, the smile on her face hopefully more genuine than disbelieving. He held his hand out to her, and she slid her hand into his.

Tonight. Tonight she would give him his Christmas gift. She couldn’t possibly wait four more days. 

 

Lucien POV

Elain had seemed off all night, nervous. Something was bothering her, and Lucien was going to find out what it was. 

She’d been fine when they’d left their home to spend yesterday and Solstice in Velaris, but today she’d been twitchy, like something else had been tugging at her mind. He could feel something down the bond that wasn’t quite anxiety, but something close to it. They landed gently on the snowy ground outside their home, his hand going to her lower back on reflex to help steady her. 

At first, he’d wondered if she missed spending time with her family in Velaris. He could always make time for them to go more often. At first, when they’d mated, they’d seen no one, tucking themselves away in a rented cabin in Day for over a month and only reemerging when they felt like they could go ten minutes with their hands to themselves. Even then, it had been dicey. In the time they were gone, Lucien had commissioned the construction to begin on their home on the same acreage as Jurian and Vassa’s. It was a ways off through the woods for privacy, but close enough that they could walk to each other easily.

In the clearing ahead sat their home, not modest, but certainly smaller than Jurian and Vassa’s. It was paneled in large, white painted slats of wood, cross hatched with dark wooden beams in a style that made it seem simultaneously lavish and cozy. Each window was flanked with dark green shutters, making it appear as though it was part of the forest surrounding it. Vines sprawled up the sides like something from a fairytale, and the soft glow of the faelights inside welcomed them home. 

Lucien was proud of the big front porch that he’d planned and then built with his own hands. It stretched across two entire sides of the house, and then he’d filled it with rocking chairs and hanging plants and a small wood stove for Elain to sit near when the nights got colder. Currently, the porch was surrounded by snow-filled flower beds, the bright bursts of color of the crocuses poking valiantly through the icy surface. Lucien smiled at the memory every time he saw them. 

The house itself had four rooms and a big kitchen, more than enough space for the two of them, as well as any guests they ever entertained. Lucien quietly hoped that some of the rooms might be more regularly put to use someday. But Lucien’s favorite part of the house, far and away, was his wedding and mating present to Elain. Near the back right corner, almost tucked away into the woods, was a massive greenhouse, connected to the kitchens by a small corridor. He’d worked with Rhys and Helion to help enchant it to stay stable year round, and they used it for a wide variety of flowers as well as some herbs and food they both enjoyed and missed from Velaris. 

Elain had cried when she’d seen it, throwing her hands around him and flinging herself into his arms. All the work had been more than well worth the smile on her face, let alone the three days of thanking him afterwards. Speaking of, he’d been thinking about exactly that all night, the sweet and spiced smell of his sweet Elain dancing around him each time she’d flitted past him in the River House. His chest rumbled now just thinking about it. 

He pulled Elain in, pressing a kiss with a small nip into her neck, then breathing her scent in deeply while she giggled in his arms. He would never tire of this, of her, of them . 

“You’ve been driving me wild all night,” he growled into her hair. 

“Oh, have I, now?” He could hear the teasing smile in her voice, and he grazed his teeth over her skin again as she shivered in his arms, her hands coming up to grip his coat over his back. He was ready to get her into bed, or at least inside the house. He’d never say no to the kitchen counter, or the floor in front of the fireplace, or the entryway, or…

“Would you come to the greenhouse with me first?” Her question gave him pause. 

The greenhouse?

“Of course, my love.” He pulled back to look down at her, her eyes shining with joy and mischief. “Is everything okay?” He didn’t go into the greenhouse very often. It was Elain’s space, and he avoided it unless he’d been invited. 

She smiled, the gesture warm and broad across her face. Lucien swore the world stopped when she smiled at him. “Everything is fine. I just have your gift there.”

“A gift? Love, you didn’t have to.” They’d said no gifts. Lucien, of course, had a pile of gifts for her stowed away in the back of their closet. 

She wrapped her fingers in his, giving a firm squeeze as she tugged on him. “I wanted to.” He followed her. He would follow her anywhere she asked. Plus, the mischief in her eyes had piqued his curiosity. 

She was so gorgeous– he would never stop thinking so. Her hair shone in the moonlight, bright as the snowflakes fell onto her hair and nose. He was so stupid in love with her. He’d change it for nothing. 

They were just about at the door to the greenhouse when he tugged her back. She spun into his arms with a whoosh of air, her breathless laugh like music in his ears. He pushed her gently against the door, a perfect little gasp leaving her lips. 

“Before we do, I can’t wait another second.” He kissed her then, before she could tease him any further, sliding his hands up her sides to sweep his thumbs beneath her breasts. Elain melted into him, making Lucien sigh as her body sank into his. Each bit of them pressed together like a key in a lock, fitting just as fate intended. He deepened the kiss, her tongue sliding across his lips and him granting her immediate access. She tasted sweet, as she always did, the confections she loved to make seemingly painted across her delicate, pink tongue. 

Her deft fingers laced through his hair, undoing the leather tie in the back and tugging it down. When her nails raked against his scalp, his hips bucked forward appreciatively, the groan leaving him causing Elain to smile against his lips. He hitched her leg up over his hip, running his hand up her thighs and gripping her to him as though she might otherwise be lost. 

She’d been hungry for him earlier– he’d felt it down the bond and seen it in her eyes. He’d been shocked at first, considering he’d been holding a baby, but when it dawned on him that she was hungering for the thought of him holding a baby, a spark had ignited within him too. Lucien wanted children so badly, a yearning to start a family of his own with the love of his life so strong it nearly choked him to think about it for too long. 

But Elain was on her own timetable, and Lucien had too much respect for her and her journey to push. She had come so far in the years since she’d been Made, the whiplash of it all only now beginning to settle in at the forefront of a very, very long life. They had time, and Lucien had patience. He certainly wasn’t left wanting. But something about the idea of Elain, glowing and stomach swelling with their child– 

He cut his thoughts off, throwing himself deeper into the kiss as she gripped his collar with her other hand. He had long since pushed down the hope for it– there was no use in the endless longing. It would happen when they were ready, or not at all. As long as he had Elain, he could survive without the rest. 

But the look she’d been giving him…

Elain pulled back, breathing heavily in the sparse air between them. 

“Gods, at this rate, we’ll never make it to the gift.” Her laugh was breathless, her eyes bright as they stared into his. Without thinking, he moved his mouth down the column of her neck, not being shy about the want he had for her.

“Can I help it that all my thoughts are currently centered on being inside my pretty wife?” She loved when he called her wife, the possession paired with the layover from her human upbringing always settling stars in her eyes when he used the name. She growled and nipped at his neck, and he huffed a laugh. He’d never get over how adorable she was when she growled. 

“Come, I think you’ll like it.” He pulled back, a wicked grin on his face. 

“Oh, I’ll co– oomph .” Lucien cackled as she broke free and whacked his stomach with the back of her hand, turning to open the greenhouse door.  

“Incorrigible behavior, sir.” 

The nickname had him aching against the brush of his pants. He was behind her again in a second, arms around her waist and mouth at her ear as he walked them both through the door. 

“Only for you, love.” 

She led them back to the main aisle of the greenhouse, the smells around them ranging from light and airy to spiced and fragrant. He wasn’t in here often, but he loved the times he was invited in. The greenhouse burst with life and joy, every bit of Elain’s signature all over each plant. She put her love and her time and her magic into every individual plant, and it showed–  the fruits and spices and vegetables more delicious than any he’d ever had, the flowers more beautiful than any he’d seen.

She took a sharp turn to the left, a row of hanging vines arching delicately over them with snap peas hanging down. Under the reflective lights of the moon and snow outside, it looked ethereal, almost magical in the near dark. She slowed to a stop near the end of the side aisle, a wide open area around a small work table illuminated by a single low faelight. 

His curiosity was overflowing now as she pulled from his arms, leaning back against the table and facing him. He arched a brow in curiosity and she blushed under his gaze. He loved that he could still make her blush. 

“What have you got for me, El?” Despite the confusion he felt, he kept the words teasing, light. She bit her lower lip between her teeth, as though considering how to phrase what she wanted to say. The action caused Lucien’s cock to twitch and he shifted his weight. 

“It’s sort of a multi-part gift,” she mumbled, her eyes flicking up to his through lowered lashes. He’d never get over the way she affected him with movements so small, so unintentional. She reached behind her back and pulled out something small, a tiny pot with a plant that looked almost feathered. The leaves were a dark green, nearly black, with the softest fibers sprouting from them. It almost looked like the fur of a rabbit, short and smooth. Strangely, Lucien itched to touch it. Above the strange leaves sat a single bloom. It looked like a tulip, the petals a deep navy but lined with a strange shimmering gold. It was like nothing he’d ever seen, and with Elain around, he’d seen plenty. 

He reached out to touch it, and she pulled it back. “Not yet.” Her voice was a whisper in the dark as he stepped closer. 

“What am I looking at, Elain?” She shivered at the words, her eyes looking up at him and seeking. 

“A plant I bought the last time we were in Day.” Ah, so a flower from Day. They’d been there over a month ago now. But as Lucien craned his head down again to look at the flower between them, it didn’t look like any plant he’d ever seen in Day. Or anywhere else. 

“It’s beautiful.” And his words weren’t trite– it was beautiful. Unique and shimmering, the flecks of gold spreading up to the pistils and stamen, coating the tips in the shimmering pollen. 

“It is. But it isn’t for looking.” His eyes flicked back up from the flower to settle on hers, a strange heat rising between them. 

He was close enough now to smell her scent between them, mixing with his in the air, her bright eyes looking up at him openly, hungrily. His voice was low when he spoke again, gravelly in the dark with need and wanting. 

“What’s it for then, Elain?” She let her eyes slip closed with his words, her lips parting as Lucien’s broad hand reached up to cup her jaw, stroking his thumb slowly back and forth across her cheek. He leaned in close, his lips grazing her ear the way he knew she liked.

“It’s a fertility plant.” The words came out in a garbled rush and Lucien froze, pulling back. 

That certainly hadn’t been what he’d thought she was going to say. 

She was flushed, the blush rising so high across her cheeks he could see it in the dark. She took a deep breath and blew it out, the breath ghosting across his skin. 

“A fertility plant…?” 

Elain took another breath, setting the planter back on the table behind her slowly. “A fertility plant,” she confirmed. 

Was it some sort of contraceptive brew? They already had stores of the bitter morning tea. He wasn’t sure why Elain would want a new kind that she needed to dry herself unless it had a better flavor. “Why would we need a fertility plant when we both drink tea every morning?” 

A smile fluttered along Elain’s lips, twisting up on one side. “What if I told you I threw all the tea away before we left for Velaris?”

“Wh–” And then it hit Lucien like a blow to the chest. 

It wasn’t a plant to halt fertility. 

It was one to support it. 

He couldn’t think, a rushing sound filling his ears. Everything tunneled his vision. Was she really saying…?

Elain POV

“--ucien!” He came back to. She had seen what had looked like every possible emotion flit across his face before he landed on something akin to awe– she could see the silver lining his eyes and Elain cradled his face in her hands. She smiled again when his eyes met hers. “You okay? I lost you there for a moment.” 

“Truly? Elain, truly?” The hope in his voice nearly broke her heart when he heard it out loud. She couldn’t bear to let him suffer any longer. 

The care he’d taken with her was so delicate, so detailed. He’d known exactly when to push her and when to give her space. He’d cared for her and seen her in a way no one else ever had. And he loved her so overwhelmingly and so joyfully, it eclipsed any of the worry she’d felt over her own upbringing. He would make a wonderful father, and the fact that he wanted it so badly told her everything else she needed to know. 

“Truly, Lucien. If you still want this, I’m ready.” 

He laughed incredulously. “If I still– come here.” The words were lost in her yelp as he picked her up and swung her in a circle, melting into her laughter as she wrapped her legs around him. He pressed kisses all over her face, spinning until they were dizzy and he pulled them to the ground with a huff.

“I’d hoped you’d be happy about it.” And she had. She’d worried for weeks about how to tell him, gone back and forth on whether or not he’d be excited. She wasn't sure now why she’d ever worried. 

“There is nothing in the world that would make me happier.” The kiss he pressed to her lips was so tender it made tears burn in her eyes. She straddled his hips, pushing him gently back against the leg of the table as she deepened the kiss. 

“Good, now let’s see if that seller in Day was worth his salt.” She reached over their heads, delicately flicking the stem of the strange flower. They both looked up as a flare of golden shimmer took to the air above them, fragrant with something that smelled like a mix of freshly turned grass and honeysuckle as it dotted down through the air. 

She felt the lightest brush of it against her nose, scrunching it as a light laugh fell from her. She inhaled deeply, letting it tickle and burn as the fragrance overwhelmed her senses. At least it smelled nice. The flowers used to make their tea were horrid things, smelling of rot, which is why she’d never grown her own to steep. 

She inhaled primly again as the last of the glimmers faded from the air above her. She didn’t feel any different. 

“Well, that’s disappointing. Another seller’s gimmick, I suppose. Well, it doesn’t mean we can’t still–” Elain cut herself off as she looked down at her mate, his natural eye glowing a gold more potent than his magical one and filled with a singular emotion: hunger. 

“Oh.” The word slipped from her on a breathy whisper as his fingers gripped into her hips, pulling her closer to grind against his very obvious erection. 

Elain felt it then, a shimmering heat building past the normal, already scorching attraction that she felt every time she was around her mate. He used his hands to grind her down against him again, the sensation so magnified that she nearly collapsed against his chest. 

“Lucien…” He tipped his head back at the name on her lips, the tension palpable in his body beneath hers. 

Before she knew it, he was moving faster than even Elain could process with her fae eyes, the sound of fabric ripping as their bodies abruptly moved shocking her. When they settled, he was flat against the ground and she was resting on his upper chest, her dress torn in two and resting on each side of her in piles of fabric. He was already moving again before she could catch her breath, pushing her to his face, hands gripping her ass hard enough to bruise. She hoped it did. She loved when he was rough with her, loved seeing the evidence the next day, loved feeling his touch even hours after it had passed. 

“Now lean back, Elain, and let me see that pretty pussy of yours.” His voice was deep, rough with need and demand. No part of her wanted to argue. She leaned back on her hands as he pulled her hips forward, sighing when she felt his halting breaths against her inner thighs. Her underwear were still on, but she’d assumed he’d tear them off as he’d done the rest. She wasn’t prepared to feel his warm, dextrous fingers sliding the gusset to the side right before he plunged his tongue into the center of her. Elain let her head fall back, eyes closing as a moan tore from her, echoing off the walls. 

Lucien pulled her to him more forcefully at the sound, laving his tongue against her in flat broad strokes until her legs shook and she had to sit back up, her fingers scrambling for purchase on the table’s edge above them. 

“Oh, Lucien. Gods , don’t stop, please don’t stop.” He doubled down his efforts, swirling his wicked tongue against her clit as she writhed. She could feel herself coming apart, the string inside her pulling taut and the inferno in her lower belly growing hotter. He knew every inch of her intimately, knew what made her tick, what made her scream. 

She gripped the table so hard with one hand she feared it might crack beneath the pressure, letting her other hand lace into his hair as she involuntarily bucked her hips against him. 

“That’s right, love. Take what you need.” The words from between her legs made them tremble, her rhythm faltering then catching again as she swirled her hips against his face, riding closer and closer to her climax on his tongue. 

Lucien snaked a hand around her and between her legs, his fingers glazing over her entrance as she cried out. Her orgasm rushed her abruptly, hitting like the crash of waves and pulling her under. He licked her through it, the ferocity of his enthusiasm not wavering once. 

She moved to slide down his body, aching to feel him inside her, but he held tighter, pressing her back to his mouth as she writhed. 

She couldn’t, the feeling too sensitive, her body strung so tightly again and winding higher that it stole the breath from her lungs. 

“Again,” he demanded, and she wanted to, but the feeling of him against her, unwavering, relentless– it was too much. 

“Lucien, I can’t, I–”

“Again, Elain.” And he secured his lips around her clit and pulled firmly, the second orgasm nearly sending her toppling over him as her body shook. His grip on her eased, but barely, the sensations distant as she surfaced from her post climactic haze.  

He let her slide back this time, slowly, haltingly. Her movements didn’t feel entirely her own, the tremors in her body unceasing in the wake of the flames still licking at her. She wanted him. She wanted more. He was looking at her, propping his weight on his elbows as she slid back down his body. 

His eyes were otherworldly, the normally russet one swirling with depthless, glimmering gold. She wondered if hers looked the same. He looked at her as though he might devour her whole, as though he hadn’t already reduced her to a screaming mess on his lips twice now. Their breaths were heavy between them, the thrumming need still filling the air with restless energy. She couldn’t think of anything but him, her need for him. Elain pulled from the strength she rarely used, winding her fingers around the back of his neck and pulling him back to sitting, the remainder of her weight falling into his lap as their lips met ferociously.

Her hands found the buttons of his shirt, ripping it apart with a snarl before she had the good sense to stop herself. The buttons went flying, pinging off the glass and ground around them as Lucien groaned in satisfaction. It wasn’t often she let the fae side of herself take over, but their bedroom proclivities tended to bring it out of her. She snarled against his lips this time, grinding herself down onto him. The noises he made in her wake were enough to set her skin ablaze. 

She fumbled beneath herself at his trousers, undoing the buttons until he finally smiled against her mouth to help slide them free. 

“So eager, my fawn. Do you still need me so badly?” He laughed as he said the words, lips still pressed against hers, but his voice was strained. He needed her, too. 

She sank her teeth into his neck to punctuate her point. “Mine,” she whispered, feeling the tension in his body begging to be set free. “I want you to fill me, mark me, make sure everyone knows I’m yours.” 

 

Lucien POV

Lucien was lost in the way her wet cunt glided over his cock, the scent of his sweet mate perfuming the air around them. The plant had sent him reeling, all the things he already felt about Elain magnified, amplified, until he could scent, see, feel nothing else but her. She was the rising sun, the glowing moon, every star in the sky. And if he didn’t bury himself to the hilt inside of her soon, he would lose what little tether he had left on his sanity. 

He was lost to the feeling, lost to her, and he wasn’t sure he ever wanted to be found. 

He nearly saw stars when her delicately pointed teeth found his neck, dragging across his pulse point and sinking into his skin. “Mine. I want you to fill me, mark me, make sure everyone knows I’m yours.” 

The final fragile leash he had on himself broke, and he notched the crown of his cock at her entrance in one swift movement. The second he felt her sigh and relax against him, he buried himself within her. His wife. His mate. 

Elain gasped above him, her hips already moving to meet his thrusts. His equal in all things, his perfect match. And she wanted him. Trusted him. She wanted him to be the father of her children, to build this life with her. She had chosen him. 

The knowledge itself was almost more than the physical sensations. Hands moved across her back, circled her waist and held tightly as they moved together. She gasped above him with each movement, her sultry little exhales puffing against their sweat-slicked skin, shining together beneath the dim faelights. 

She was magnificent.

Lucien was of two minds. He could feel his normal worship of her, his appreciation of her beauty, her body, her mind. The fact that he was hers. But that primal side of him that was always there, lurking just under the surface, was roaring to the forefront, demanding to be heard. The mating bond was singing, screaming, pulling, reaching. He wanted to crawl inside of Elain and curl up within her ribs, wrap himself around her heart. He wanted to fuck her into the dirt of the greenhouse floor until she came screaming around his cock. He wanted her to return the favor immediately after. 

Claim, take, give, mine.

Claim, take, give, mine.

It was a prayer, it was a demand.

The thought of her pregnant with his child nearly made him come then and there, the searing heat wrapping around his spine overwhelming him as his rhythm faltered. She moaned and panted above him as she shifted her hips to take him deeper, thrusting down on him to meet each motion. 

She was delight, perfection. 

Her hands grasped at his shoulders, moving to the nape of his neck, tugging his hair while he bared his teeth and snarled. He was an animal, a spirit, nothing of his former self intact as Elain tightened impossibly around him. 

Claim, take, give, mine.

Her nipples dragged against his chest, her staccato gasps sharp in his ear, and he reached between them, circling her clit. 

“Come for me, Elain. Come on my cock and show me how much you want me.”

Lucien heard her cry out the moment that she fell apart around him. His breath forced from his lungs as though it had been pulled, the stuttering gasps as he thrust up into her. He was losing himself, falling fully into her. 

Elain was the beginning, Elain was the end. Elain was everything. 

“Come, Lucien. Come inside me and give me a baby.” Her words were a hoarse whisper against his neck, her body exhausted, but it was all Lucien’s body needed to fully lose control.  

The panels of glass shook around them while he came, nearly blacking out with the force of it as he banded his arms across Elain’s back, seeing stars behind his eyes as she whimpered against him. 

When Lucien’s breath returned, his eyes cracking open in the dark, Elain was still pressed against him, slumped into his chest. He felt almost normal again, the need back to a simmering level that he recognized, the one he always felt when he beheld his mate. They breathed as one, their hearts beating in time the way they always had, the gentle thrumming grounding Lucien as he stroked a hand down Elain’s spine. 

“Do you think it took?” She asked breathlessly, tracing her finger in slow patterns across his chest. 

Lucien exhaled in satisfaction, relishing in her gentle shivers as his fingers danced across her ribs and waist.

“I don’t know, but I am looking forward to perfecting the art until we find out.” 

With a wicked smile, he reached above them and flicked the plant again.

[fierling]

Elucien - Helwater stables

Spreading my horse girl!Elain agenda with this modern AU. I've written a rough version of the first chapter.

------

The tack room had been just as beautiful as the rest of the stables, full of expensive saddles and other riding and grooming items that were in immaculate condition. People here really liked to keep everything clean and tidy. Elain was starting to feel a bit worried about how she would fit in. Their family was well off, and her father had done some great trading deals recently. It was partly why she had moved here from her old, a bit shabby, but cozy stables. Her father thought it would be better for her training to go to a better stable. 

Elain was beginning to wonder if her father also wanted to get to know other rich people who boarded their horses here. Or even Lord Tamlin, who owned the manor and the stables. Father was always looking for new trading opportunities. Connections were everything, as he liked to tell her.

She tried to stop thinking about such cynical thoughts, and continued brushing Fawn. She was already munching her hay, and seemed to not mind the relocation. 

”You might be better with change than I am, sweetie,” she told Fawn, and patted her neck. ”I don’t know if I will fit in here, but I’m sure you will make lots of new friends.” 

”Why wouldn’t you fit in here?” asked a deep and rich male voice behind her. Elain spun and almost dropped her brush when she saw who was standing in the aisle in front of Fawn’s stall. 

Lucien the ex grand prix rider Vanserra. 

And he was smirking at her. He had a crooked smile, a little dimple on the other side of his face and perfect white teeth. His very distinctive ruby red hair seemed to shimmer in the afternoon light. She couldn’t help but look at his scar too, and what must have been a prosthetic eye.

”I, uh… Sorry, I was just talking to my horse,” she stammered. 

”Don’t we all? They’re good listeners,” he said, nodding. ”I'm Lucien, by the way. You must be Elain Archeron and this is Fawn, right? Welcome to Helwater. I’m sorry I couldn't come to welcome you earlier. Hopefully Vassa gave you a tour and made sure that you two have everything you need?”

[lovemyromance]

I need to get out of this fandom I didn't realize how crazy these people were oh my godddd

They out here saying and dreaming and fantasizing and making headcannons around them speculating that "Elain probably still has the cloak Lucien threw over her at Hybern" and giggling "she looks at it every day and steals 4 more of his cloaks"

what in the actual hell??

What even-How even-WHY EVEN??

Why tf would she cherish an item that reminds her of the worst day of her life??

There has been literally NOTHING to show she recalls that day as anything less than a very traumatic time, where her entire life, her mortality got ripped away from her. We know she has trauma from the cauldron - She literally tells Nesta her trauma from the iron crockpot has gone overlooked but it's THERE.

Why tf would she keep a cloak from a mate she doesn't want?? Stop fucking romanticizing her trauma!!

Also - wtf are you even praising? He gave her his cloak. That is the BARE MINIMUM. That's not the hallmark of a love story you think it is.

And I bet these are the same people romanticizing Gwyn's trauma and saying omg "Gwyn probably has Azriel's cloak too from when he saved her 🥺 the cloak imagery between Elucien & Gwynriel is so strong 😭😭" (yk, even though Mor carried her out not Azriel)

Stop inventing fake events, praising those fake events (which again - did not happen), and forming headcannons based on fucked up shit!

LIKE NO. Stop it! Get some help!

These are traumatic events. Please stop acting like they are grand romantic gestures. That is like if I said "Oh I bet Elain kept the chains they took off her when Azriel saved her at Hybern 🤭🤭 she looks at them every day and lovingly sighs"

EW

Stop that. I wish I had a spray bottle to mist some of these crazy people.

[nocasdatsgay]

Erisweek2023 “From the Ashes, the Wildflowers Grow” Fic MasterList

I didn’t have time to make a pretty info graphic but this is the layout of the fic I’ll start posting tomorrow 9/17. Underline means the post is live.

Day 1: Family

Day 2: High Lord*

Day 3: Secrets

Day 4: Autumn Equinox (The Hunt)**

Day 5: Dancing

Day 6: High Lord Bonus Chapter

Day 6: Extra Bonus chapter

Day 7: Free Day (Beginnings)

Chapters were originally posted in reverse to match the day theme. Each chapter was posted separately and linked above.

Summary: What started as a random encounter became something more. A navigation of points in time to when Eris finally gets his happy ending.

Update: All chapters on ao3 are are in order Read it here.

Notes and other items in the read more.

*Day 2 and 6 are ones that can be read together by themselves if you want. Those do not contain interactions with the OC.

**Day 4 will be 18+. Loosely inspired by a reader/Eris fic on here that I need to find and tag (it was months ago). Mostly the idea of a chase in the woods part.

Names for the Unnamed Vanserra Brothers: Piran, Asher, Cillian, Hector (deceased), Leon (deceased).

OC is named Celeste. She is from Spring.

Fic is in 3rd person.

I did not give Lady of Autumn a name. There are too many to choose from and I didn’t want to accidentally use one someone else has been using. Also it’s predominately Eris’s POV; he doesn’t call her by her first name.

Minor Elucien. Very minor, mostly in Day 1. Also implied healing between the Vanserra family. Implied healing between Tamlin and Lucien.

I might published an eighth chapter to bridge the gap between chapters 2/6 and chapter 1. No promises it will be ready in time tho.

[mardereads19]

Do you think that SJM put the truth teller as a bridge of connection between elain and azriel because it will show the truth about them in some moment on elain book. I think it would show the truth open a secret between their relationship like what they truly supposed to do together

First, hi @evavalentina19 ! Your name is gorgeous (assuming that’s your name)!!!

To answer your question; yes, I do think there is a chance. But mostly I think it is very symbolic of their relationship. Listen, I am a firm believer that Azriel and Elain are mates, because

The mate behavior is there. There are SO many moments. EVERY moment, I’d dare say. ESPECIALLY Acowar and Acosf.

There must be a reason why Azriel can smell elucien’s mating bond when no one but Amren could smell feysand’s after it clicked (And elucien’s already clicked, but there has been no acceptance, no union. Even Nessian’s mating bond didn’t come through until that one night. Before then, they just reeked of sex and each other.).

The whole “If anyone can sense if something is amiss, it’s a mate” scene in Acowar.

And the links between elucien’s bond and spells. I won’t talk about that now, but it’s here, if you’d like to read.

And if I had to add a fifth item to that list, it’d be:

5. The truth imagery going on between elriel.

You already brought up Truth-teller, and here is a post by @daisymydaisy that amazingly explores what powers it has and even supports your theory!

If Elriel turns out not to be mates, then truth-teller could still symbolize that true love. But I think that they were always meant to find each other, as the whole “three brothers with three sisters” thing and “the cauldron chose two sisters to mate with two of those brothers, but gave the third one to another” debate. The truth imagery behind everything, especially Truth-Teller (Teller of the Truth) being the only bridge between them, when the mating bond is described as a bridge between souls, is very unsubtle!!

There is also Morrighan, whose powers are truth!

Mor is part of the equation when we discuss elriel. She was, for almost his entire life, Azriel’s love interest. And, as I’ve stated here, is still a stake in the elriel book. Even if she did not make an appearance, which I highly doubt, there still remains the question: how does he feel about her now? Is he truly over her? Yes, we might know from circumstantial evidence in acosf that he is, but ex-lovers like Greyson and un-required-pinning-afters like Azriel with Mor are still part of the story. We all want to know how and when it happened. When did Elain stop thinking about Greyson exactly? When did Azriel notice Elain in a romantic way for the first time and did he even notice that Mor had become less of an interest? So, from the get-go, Mor is tied up into this.

What makes it so interesting is the fact that Mor’s power is truth, and that she has some sort of role in elriel’s love story (be it passive or active), since she knows something both the readers and the other characters don’t know!

Mor’s powers are truth! And, honestly, that’s pretty much all we know about them. But according to the way the rest is written, I figure out Mass is only giving us bits and pieces here and there, because she fully plans on showing us Mor’s powers when it’s most convenient in the next books. I’d bet that we’ll learn some more during elriel’s book if this post is right.

We all know our seer girl is observant, but Morrighan is, too. And this scene pictures her staring at the space where Azriel used to be standing before winnowing away. Seconds before, Elain was talking about her vision.

We don’t know what Mor was thinking of, but I doubt SJM wrote her looking at that spot if it weren’t because she was observing something in Azriel. It could even be as simple as noticing how Azriel listens to Elain because he understands her—like even Feyre points out later on—or something as complicated as sensing something between him and Elain. The point is, she was staring, and we got to read about it.

By Acofas, she already knows something neither the readers nor the other characters know, but she does not interfere. And, judging by her powers, whatever she knows is true, and the conviction in her voice is a giveaway of the faith she has it will come to pass.

That convo could be regarded as a strong elucien hint, if it hadn’t been for this other one that happened before:

Here, she does not respond to the comment of Elain giving back Truth-Teller, but hums (not at all telling of something wink wink).

It was her who brought to attention how Azriel won’t give-up Truth-Teller for any of Mor’s (his all-time crush, no-one-thought-he-would-ever-get-over-he-loves-her-too-much-is-obsessed-with-would-look-at-her-with-pain-in-his-eyes-but-somehow-still-get-laid-with-secret-lovers love interest) gifted blades, but that he did give it up to Elain (who we know now is driving him wild with desire and want and he would go to a store to buy her a thoughtful gift for solstice and we have heard nothing about still having those secret lovers since he began to skip family dinners and burn calories on the gym they have above the house of wind at night to ignore how he wants flower girl instead of heading to town to find one of those secret lovers even the shadows worry for him), who at the moment, was supposed by everyone to be only Az’s high lady’s sister.

Why would Mor go out of her way to remind Feyre that Azriel did something for Elain that he wouldn’t even do for Mor? Why would SJM write that convo if she hadn’t been nudging us to remember and realize how big that scene was, too? This convo alone says “hey, look at elriel!” and so when Mor says “It’ll sort itself out. It always does” and reiterates that all of them will be happy, immediately we understand that something is afoot here including Azriel, and Mor knows about it. She knows the outcome. We know too.

Now, this is a theory, but I wonder if we will see the Veritas Orb also playing a role (like you said about truth teller) in exposing the truth of Elriel (be it them as a secret couple in Acotar 5 or their mating bond).

It belonged to Mor’s family for millennia and it carries the same truth magic. So I feel like it could tie up. I haven’t read any theories or posts on this, but if there are, I’d appreciate anyone who points it out to me so I can read!

And lastly, there is also the whole True Mates thing SJM showed us in CC2.

The wording is too precise, me thinks. And it’s another wink at mate behavior. Who went ballistic-in-the-way-only-mates-can-when-the-other-is-threatened when Elain was taken by Hybern? Who went ballistic-in-the-way-only-mates-can-when-the-other-is-threatened when Cassian said Nesta had a fight with Elain? Who went ballistic-in-the-way-only-mates-can-when-the-other-is-threatened when Nesta called Elain a snoozefest and said she was finally growing claws? (He was ready to risk it all with those shadows like snakes preparing to strike.)

Conclusion

I wrote all of that to say that yes, I think there is a chance that truth-teller might be involved with revealing the truth about Elriel and, for those of us who believe they are mates, about their mating bond.

It could be by revealing it to someone alone (like Azriel finding out somehow through it) or to a group of people or to everyone, but Truth-Teller could also just be symbolic (along with the rest I discussed above). Something else could be what exposes their relationship (like the Veritas Orb, a kiss in dramatic fashion in front of everyone when one of them barely survives in a battle of some kind, or one of them screaming “BECAUSE I LOVE THEM!” during an argument with Rhysand, etc.) No matter what, the iconic blade plays some part in their relationship. A symbol at the very least. “True love lies between these two holding me,” it’s certainly saying.

The possibilities on what exposes Elriel are endless and I only hope it is as climatic as we make it out to be in our fanfics and theories and headcanons!

Anyway, that is my take on it. Sorry to keep you waiting for a couple of days, I hope my answer was worth it!

[my-inner-crisis]

Thoughts on next gen in ACOTAR? Cassian is a girl dad and that’s fanon >.< what about the rest? Especially Elucien omg

Okay I love this topic especially since I was introduced to @separatist-apologist crew of next gen kids. I’ve been thinking about it for needlessly long sequences of time (that hyperfixation is working hard)

1. Gwynriel: I know it’s quite popular that they have twins and I like that too! I think they’d have 3 kids, a set of twins (a boy and a girl) and then a boy. I just feel like Gwyn is a boy mom and Azriel is as protective of a dad as you can get. I think the boy would be born first and he’d look a lot like Azriel and Azriel is kind of the one to initiate talks about another baby. Gwyn is a very active Valkyrie but she obliged happily and is kinda mortified when she finds out it’s twins, but then they girl has big bright blue eyes and night dark hair and they name her Catrin of course and the boy is a redhead but not quite like Gwyn. I picture him with a very dark red tone, like a dark red wine, it’s only really visible when the sun hits him directly and he also has freckles

2. Nessian: Agreeed! Cassian 100% girl dad, Nesta is down because Cassian wants kids and she’s finally settled and happy to take up such a responsibility. They don’t have kids sooo suddenly though, they do take a few years just ofAnd they have one girl with Illyrian wings and then another and by baby number 3 she’s secretly hoping it’s a third girl just to have 3 sisters. Cassian is overjoyed, he’s teaching them to fly way too early, he’s bragging about how amazing they are to anyone who has ears like it’s genuinely annoying 😌 when they are older, at least 2/3 are definitely Valkyries and one of them is a scholar

3. Feysand: two kids at most! They’re busy busy, and since Nyx is canon, I think they’ll have another sometime in the future and she’ll be a girl. Nyx is going to be a shifty little shit who falls for someone really hard but it’s forbidden or complicated or whatever it may be, he’s just not going to have a great time (maybe like one of Tamlin’s sons or something I’m just making this up as I gooo). And the girl is going to be a bisexual queen who loves to tease her brother and who is not interested in love for the longest time. She is very interested in running the court, she might actually become chosen as High Lady once Rhysand steps down, she’s tactful and big brained like her dad. Nyx has an artistic hobby while the girlie’s hobby is like archery. She’s a wild child but she’s scheeeeming really hard whenever she’s on a mission

4. Elucien: listen, they’ll have a bunch of kids. A BUNCH. It’ll take a while though, it doesn’t come so easily, they don’t even start thinking about it for like a solid 10 years after they become an item. Lucien always wanted kids but he’s afraid of fatherhood because of his experience growing up, and he’s secretly really insecure about their relationship for a solid 3-4 years after all is said and done. Elain is kinda similar with the commitment, she comes into her own and she has big dreams of letting herself explore and enjoy herself out of the clutches of everyone and Lucien helps her tremendously with that. So they enjoy life as a childless couple for like a solid decade, doing their duties as emissaries and travelling a lot everywhere. Elain suggests it after and Lucien is excited but also shitting it. They first have a girl with red hair, and then another and another and another, they mostly all have variations of red hair until finally a boy is born and he’s the spitting image of Elain, from hair to eyes. Between a bunch of redhead girlies they have another boy who has dark hair like his grandpa, curly too. I just picture them with like 6 girls and the 2 boys and some of them are unplanned but they also don’t mind it, they have a very “whatever has to happen” attitude about it. Lucien is an expert hair braider.

Bonus: Eris and whoever will make him happy will have a cutthroat scary burn the world down kind of daughter and a gentle curious son who reminds Eris of baby Lucien a lot. Tamlin has 2 sons and a daughter and his son might be super in love with a certain Night Court firstborn. Kallias and Viviane also have a boy and a girl. Okay that’s allll, hope you enjoy 😌

[bowdawn]

prompts Elucien with Elain saying this to Lucien: “ of course i noticed. i notice everything about you. ”

My feet could almost touch the floor of the river. Lucien had taken me out from Velaris for a picnic, and to show me some flower that only grew at Spring Court.

I quite liked our courtship. He was sweet, and attentive. He was funny, smart and witty. He had annoyed me relentless at first, pushing me until I would either break or walk away.

He was the only one that really challenged me after I was turn. And the one only that really listened. I had thought that Graysen had seen me, only for Lucien to prove me wrong. Graysen saw the version of me that would fit to his wishes and life. Lucien saw me.

I have no doubts that at first he did that only due to our mating bond. But I also had no doubts he recognized the hurt and pain he had once felt, and he decided to help because Lucien was just like that.

I was quite sure that I love him. Despite the mating bond. He managed to twirl himself into my heart and mind like no other could have. And I was perfectly content to have him for the rest of my eternal, endless, ageless, life.

Should he have me of course.

Something tugged on my toes and I yelped, taking them out of the water. 

Lucien laughed a little a far from me. "I told you some fish might try to bite your feet."

I hugged my knees into my chest, leaving my feet far away from the water as possible. "The fishes from Velaris don't try to eat my toes."

Lucien barked another laugh. He stood a little deeper in the water, pants and shirt rolled up, fishing with bare hands. It made me hot and bother just to look at him. The smirk on his face showed me he knew all about it.

"They also don't taste like this too." On a fluid and quick motion, Lucien reached under water and grabbed a big fish. This wasn't the first time I've seen his trick, so I could contain my gape and clap at my mate proudly.

"Great, I'm hungry." 

I made my way back to our picnic blanket and Lucien lazily made his way as well. I picked the fishing knife and a cloth - items I had to start carrying on my picnic basket due to his tendencies of hunting - and offered them to him.

Quietly Lucien cleaned the fish while I built the fire, just the way Lucien had taught me, preparing the big leaf he found earlier, and filling it with the spices we usually liked. Lucien gave me the fish, and I placed it on the leaf, packaging with care before putting on the top of the fire.

While the fish was baking, he stretched his hand to me. "Let me see your feet."

Heat floated all over me as I shook my head, but Lucien only stared at me. "I'm fine, the fishes didn't bit me so hard."

Lucien only wiggled his fingers. I knew of his healing magic, and I knew that I could ask him anytime I wanted. Today was not the case for such treatment.

"You won't stop bother me until you've see my toes." It was a fact more than a question.

Lucien grinned at me. He could fuss so much at times. "I will kiss each of them to heal." And even as he said I could feel my skin blushing and shivering all over again.

I offer him my both of my foot and he inspected with more measure than he should have. A image flowed in my mind of a little girl sitting in front of Lucien while he checked her injuries with that same attention.

I clipped our bond shut. Allowing us to stay in the present, as I knew our future would still be there for us. I didn't fight the smile that creeped into my face, I couldn't wait for that time to come. And if my visions were any promise, Lucien and I would have our hands full.

He indeed kissed - ever so gently - each toe, making me giggle with the tickles. First the right foot, then the left. He held my left a little too long, brushing his fingers around my ankle.

"Does it stills hurt?" He asked me without stoping his examination.

"What?"

"Does your ankle still hurt? From when the Cauldron spit you out? You landed badly on your left ankle. And sometimes I can see you limp for a step or two, or you hiding a hiss."

I smiled at him. "Actually, it hurts from when I was a child and ran away from my mother to be a witch in the woods." 

Lucien smiled at me, kissing my ankle as well. I felt instantly the breeze of his magic surround it. "A witch, you said?" 

And I nodded my head."I didn't see a huge tree root and fell, but my left foot was stuck. I was lucky I didn't break the bones, but from time to time I feel the phantom pain from it. Or at least that's what Madja says." 

He stood up, only to turn the fish around on the fire, and flopped back down beside me. I didn't resist and brushed my finger on the scar of his eye. "Does the metal eye still bother your lids sometimes?" 

He only stared at me.

"You twitch your eye sometimes, when you read too much, or didn't slept well. You will even pull the lid up so you can move the eye out of the place that was annoying you..." I bent over and kissed his eye, wishing I had the same power as he did.

"You've noticed it?" His question left his lips no louder than a whisper, the sound broken.

"Of course I noticed, I notice everything about you." And it was the truth. Even before I loved him, even before we were friends, on a time all I wished was to be back to human, I would always noticed everything of him.

My mate.

His arms circled around me and I lay my back on his chest. He kissed my ears, as he had done many and many times before. Then he took my hand and kissed it too. "Marry me?" 

Even as I heard his question, my heart was too loud. I turn around and look at his face and know he was serious. I can feel the tears prickled my eyes as I crushed my lips to his. "Yes." I said between kisses. "Yes, yes, yes."

"I love you Elain, more than I could even imagine loving someone." His kisses didn't stop, and I never wanted them to. "

I love you too Lucien." It was all I could manage to say between them.

Finally, Lucien scoped me and carried me until I'm siting on a low three trunk. "I've done it all wrong. My big mouth has a life of it's own." I frowned as he rambled. Slowly, never taking his eyes off mine, he lowers to his knee. And even if I already said yes, my senses overflow again. Smiling, Lucien held a velvet box between his hands and when he opened a beautiful amethyst and pearls ring sat in the middle. "I love you Elain Archeron. And I want to share my whole life with you. Will you marry me?"

My smile broadened and I brushed my hand on his hair. "Lucien..."

"Yes?"

"The fish is burning."

"Cauldron's boils me."

[exquisitley-obsessed]

Fiancés, Firebirds, Foxes and Fawns: 3

Author: @exquisitley-obsessed​

Summary: A few weeks after Briallyn's attempt at uniting with Koschei, Lucien opens the door of Lockhart Manor to find Elain, cold from the rain and holding a note from the High Lady of the Night Court demanding her to assist Lucien in building alliances with the human councils. Forced to work together by their exhausted High Lord and Lady, Elain is able to convince anyone to do anything, while Lucien has the acquaintances to go anywhere he likes. Together, they attempt to unite the fae and mortal lands and unravel the deal made between Koschei and Vassa, while Lucien remains haunted by his own promise to Elain's father. ELUCIEN, POST-ACOSF

Pairings: Elain x Lucien, Elucien

Warnings: None.

A/N: This is going to be a long, slow burn fic (hopefully)

MY MASTERLIST

THIS FIC’S MASTERLIST

AO3

Chapter Four: Playing House

“Who could be calling this time of night?” Vassa rose from her chair, her skirts flowing to the floor.

“Trouble?” Lucien shrugged.

“We can only hope,” Jurian grinned, leaping to his feet with newfound excitement.

“I sent the maids to bed,” Vassa moved to peer out a window where she should’ve had a clear view of the porch, but nothing could be seen through the black rain, “Should I wake the house for guests?”

“We don’t know if it’s a guest, might be something more fun,” Jurian was still grinning wolfishly, now bouncing from one foot to the other, “So…who’s going to open the door?” Both man and male turned to look at Vassa who only scoffed in response.

“Ugh - why me?”

“You’re the queen, princess.”

“How are you going to call me queen and princess in the same sentence?”

“It’s an oxymoron.”

“Oxymoronic more like.”

“Oh Mother, I’m surrounded by children,” Lucien groaned, running his hands over his face.

“The only children in this room are you two. Afraid of answering a door for Cauldrons-sake,” she huffed as she waltzed into the foyer, embellished with russet wood and crimson carpets, Lucien and Jurian on her tail like puppies.

She’d just reached the towering oak doors when something whipped her around, pulling her by her outstretched hand. Turning, Vassa came face to face with Lucien whose eyes were stony with determination.

“I think not,” was all he said, his other hand resting on his belt where his silver sword of Autumn was permanently strapped.

“Why?” Vassa huffed, feeling her heartbeat quicken in response to the intensity of Lucien’s gaze.

“You’re insane if you think I’m going to let a queen open the door to an unexpected guest in the middle of the night, in the middle of a storm, whilst unarmed and being tracked by a Death God.”

Vassa’s wide eyes just drank him in, before looking down at where his hand was wrapped around her wrist. He dropped it instantaneously, as though she had burned him.

“So he does have balls,” Jurian cooed from behind them, but to Vassa, he was long forgotten.

“Fine,” Vassa took a step towards the Fae Lord, allowing her voice to drop a few octaves as she refused to break eye contact, “Go ahead.” She just about purred before turning and walking back to wait at the base of the stairs, missing the confused look on Lucien’s face as he turned to the door.

He should’ve been able to smell whoever was on the otherwise of the door, as well as the Belladonna’s which sat in clay pots on either side of the entrance. But all Lucien was getting, was the smothering dew of the rain, wet overturned earth and the neither-here-nor-there scent of furious winds. He could however hear a soft murmur of voices, from the pitch, female, before a second, shy knock beat on the wooden door. Two heartbeats, and that was it, all the information he could glean given the storm and inches of brick which separated him and his ‘guests’.

With his hand on the door’s iron handle, Lucien’s body felt alive and electric, like a drawn bow ready to fire. There was something in the air, a moment of calm before the storm. Without dwelling on it any longer, Lucien rose to is full height, one of his greatest assets even against other Fae, and yanked the door open.

“Hello?” A small, quiet voice. A voice that haunted his dreams.

***

Touch her. No, don’t touch her. She doesn’t want to be touched. But it is normal for people to touch, people touch all the time, a hand on a shoulder is no affront. Just touch her. But you have no reason to touch her.

That’s what Elain smelt like, or something similar, he supposed.

At first all Lucien could see of Elain was her big eyes, peeking over her purple cloak like beacons. But he’d recognise those eyes everywhere, sometimes it felt as though they were in his room, watching him. She seemed to still as he caught her eye, him standing in the warm orange light of the house, her shrouded in darkness and mystery.

At first all Lucien could see of Elain was her big eyes, peeking over her purple cloak like beacons. But he’d recognise those eyes everywhere, sometimes it felt as though they were in his room, watching him. She seemed to still as he caught her eye, him standing in the warm orange light of the house, her shrouded in darkness and mystery.

In response to the cold and the rain, Elain’s cheeks had flushed a healthy rose. Her eyes were wide, and Lucien could see how the water had darkened and elongated her lashes. If Elain were this beautiful when she was fae, Lucien couldn’t comprehend how magnificent she must’ve looked like a human. Surely there had been suitor after suitor, clawing for a minute of her time, or even a handkerchief or a pearl. Anything of hers to prove to themselves that such beauty was possible – that she was somehow real.

It wasn’t until Lucien had stuttered a meek ‘come in’ when he noticed the second bundle of a person over Elain’s shoulder. When they came into the light of the foyer, Lucien had recognised her as one of the shadow wraith’s that often accompanied Elain in the Night Court. Which one, he could not tell, but she was lesser fae, and lesser fae were always welcome in his home.

Lucien was sure he was in a state of shock, his ears were ringing faintly as Elain entered a polite discussion with Jurian who was smiling enough for the both of them. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, convinced that if he even blinked for too long then she’d disappear, back to the Night Court.

Lucien stood lamely to the side, his posture rigid. Vassa remained at the base of the stairs, whatever her countenance was to Elain’s arrival, he didn’t care for it. As Jurian chatted, Elain had pulled back her hood to reveal her hair of deep gold, soaked entirely, as though she had just arisen from a bath. Lucien dug his nails into his palm.

She was so beautiful, and it hurt to wonder how the Cauldron had ever, at any point of time, believed him worthy of being considered a perfect equal to such a creature.

“Ah, might this be the letter?” Lucien forced himself to tune into the conversation.

“Yes,” Elain’s gentle voice washed over him, lapping across his skin and like magic, it began to soothe him. “From the High Lady of the Night Court. I am to be staying with you for some time it seems, an extra hand to deal with the councils. If that would be alright?” Her voice, unlike Jurian’s or Vassa’s, was consistently soft, and in a strange way, it gave her an aura of power. As though she need not speak too loudly or rush her words, as she knew the world would be listening anyway.

“Ah,” Jurian plucked the sopping note from Elain’s palm, and though he really didn’t care, Lucien watched with intent at how Jurian avoided touching any part of Elain’s skin. Instead, he grabbed the letter’s corner and held it out as it dribbled rainwater across the red and gold carpet.

“Oh, um,” Elain seemed to flush, “I promise you it was a note from Feyre. The lettering might be a bit…illegible.”

“I think we can take your word, Ms Archeron.”

“Elain, please,” she whispered politely with a small curtsey that clearly came naturally. Lucien was so taken aback by Elain that he barely had time to recognise that Jurian was putting on a big show of good behaviour for his mate. If Elain had been anyone else, and if Lucien had been back in the Spring Court manor wearing his fox mask, he would’ve winked and told Elain that she was pretty enough to go where she pleased since kings would most likely fall to her feet anyway, but he just bit his tongue and cocked his head.

He needed to say something to her, he needed to be able to look into those eyes. What was she really doing here? Had Feyre truly sanctioned this? She’d said High Lady, not High Lord. Why had she come in the middle of the night? Why was she here, why was she really here?

“Let me take that for you,” was all he ended up saying, looking from Elain to her cloak then back to her eyes.

Some part of him hated seeing Elain in damp clothes with her hair dripping. It reminded him too much of the first time he’d seen her, as his mate, after she’d just been through the most traumatic experience of her life. He wished nothing more than to wrap her up into his arms and send wave after wave of warmth through her to dry her clothes, to make sure she was never cold and shivering again.

Elain seemed to stare at him for a moment, and Lucien wondered if she could possibly be just as taken aback by him as he was of her. How many of these moments, these little pauses between words, were genuine? And how much of it was the drive of the bond?

“Thank you,” She whispered, her hands reaching up to undo the clasp at her neck. As she did so, Lucien adverted his eyes. Something about seeing Elain remove an item of clothing, even a sopping cloak, felt too much like an invasion of privacy. And then she was holding her cloak out to him, and he just nodded at her, allowing his lips to turn up at the corners as he took the damp material, making sure not to accidentally touch her bare hands.

Behind Elain, the twin appeared to cock her head and glare at him, her message clear – ‘and what about me, huh?’ Lucien ignored her as he folded the cloak over his arm and took a step back towards the wall.

“Well, welcome to Lockhart Manor, Ms Archeron,” Vassa then announced herself as she strode forth from the base of the stairs, her posture stiff and elegant. This wasn’t Vassa speaking. This was a queen. “We have spare rooms in abundance which you’re more than welcome to settle into, since the maids are asleep right now please allow me to take you to your quarters.”

“Oh, um, thank you,” Elain nodded and smiled politely, a faint flush spreading on her cheeks, one that threatened to bring Lucien to his knees.

“No luggage, or are you not staying long?” Vassa inquired innocently enough, and had Lucien tore his eyes away from Elain for just a moment, he would’ve seen the slight glint in the queen’s eye.

“My sister will winnow me my bags tomorrow morning. You see, it was paramount we left the Night Court at a certain time. Unfortunately, this was our best window for travelling, but Feyre insisted you would be awake given…” given Vassa’s curse, her inability to see sunlight with human eyes.

“Are you in danger?” Lucien couldn’t bite his tongue as something began to rise within him – Terror? Anger? Worry? Elain’s big eyes drifted back to his, and once more she seemed to pause before speaking.

“No,” she breathed. Her voice was just a petal in the wind. “At least, only in danger of Nesta finding out I’m missing.”

“You didn’t tell her you were coming here?” If Lucien wasn’t mistaken, that might just be a slightly mischievous glint alight in Elain’s eye. The idea of Elain deceiving her viper of a sister to come across the world to stay with him, seemed far too good to be real, and Lucien couldn’t stop the small grin that pulled at his lips.

“Well, you must be tired after such a journey.” Lucien wished Vassa hadn’t spoken because it pulled Elain’s gaze from his. Lucien also suspected that little travelling had been done since Elain’s companion was a shadow wraith, and able to travel the world via the shades. “Please, let me show you to your room.”

Lucien hated to see her go, as she politely curtseyed to the queen before following her up the stairs and disappearing down a corridor which led to the western wings. It was only when she was, in fact, out of sight, that Lucien felt the reality of her presence collide with him like a pile of bricks.

Suddenly, he was breathing too quickly, no, too slowly. His body was overheating, and his heart was racing. All around him swirled her scent and every cell in his body was screaming at him to follow her up the stairs, to keep her in sight and never let her leave it. Keep her warm, keep her safe.

“Careful Luce,” Jurian’s voice called him back to reality, and he found Jurian peering at him with that god-damn, shit-eating, all-knowing grin, “She’s going to want that back,” was all he said as he nodded at the sopping cloak Lucien had clutched against his abdomen. The rainwater soaking through his linens, and making him shiver.

***

“You say your sister sent you?” Vassa was leading Elain and Nuala down a series of hallways. Elain liked the manor, one she would’ve adored when she was human. There was a crimson carpet that bled across the entire house, embellished with threads of sparkling gold. Deep brown wood covered the walls in panels, and there were candles here, not faelight, which cast the hallways in a warm, watery glow. It felt so familiar, in such a painful way.

“I wanted to be of some use to my sister following Briallyn, she thought I could be of use in working with the human councils given I…well, I…”

“Used to be human?” The queen’s voice was slightly monotonous, almost sounding as though she were somewhat bored, that these things happened all the time.

“Yes,” Elain nodded furiously. She’d been so caught up in the idea of seeing Lucien again that she’d practically forgotten Jurian and Vassa.

“Well, after a good night’s rest you might be able to catch me before sunrise and we can discuss where you’d be most useful.”

“Yes, thank you…what kind of work is there?”

“Meetings with councils and human lords, establishing positive relations between fae and humans which, considering humans were enslaved to the fae a few hundred years ago, isn’t the easiest relationship to manage. There’s also work to be done regarding the human armies, and not to mention the other human queens. We could also use with someone prepared to travel to establish trade routes between the mortal lands and the Spring Court, though, really all of this pales in comparison to cleaning up the mess Briallyn left behind.”

Elain blew out a breath. There was so much going on in the world, in the mortal lands alone, and her family had hidden it all from her. Or had they hidden her from the world? It didn’t matter, she was here now, and she was prepared to make herself as useful as possible.

“Where can I find you, to talk tomorrow morning?”

“I’ll most likely be in the dining room, taking breakfast with Lucien and Jurian.” The Queen swung a hard left and Elain stumbled slightly as she tried to follow.

“Okay…thank you, for everything.” Elain put on her best smile, but the queen wasn’t looking at her.

“You were quite sick the last time I saw you,” was all the queen said in response, and Elain felt as though ice had been poured down the back of her dress.

“Yes, I was,” Elain said quietly, her eyes meeting those of Nuala’s for a fleeting moment. God, where was her room?

“You’re better now?”

“Yes,” Elain practically whispered, not interested in being reminded of those torturous months post-Cauldron. Especially when, technically, she was still in them.

“Good,” Vassa said, and Elain couldn’t read her tone, but then, “Here are your quarters, Jurian’s rooms are just down the hall. If you wish to find me, or Lucien,” she paused slightly, “Then you can find our rooms in the East wing. Just ask a passing maid and they’ll lead you to us.”

Something ugly reared its head inside Elain as Vassa referred to her and Lucien as an ‘us’. And if Elain wasn’t mistaken, judging by the glint in Vassa’s eye, the language had been intentional. But Elain knew this game, knew how to play a courtier, how to manipulate a crowd with a smile.

Interesting, some part of Elain perked up. Maybe she’d gotten herself into more than she was expecting by coming to Lockhart Manor. Or maybe, it was a really, really good thing she’d come at all.

“Thank you,” was all Elain said, letting nothing pass her courtly smile. “For everything.”

***

Nuala had her own room but had stayed with Elain for a while after Vassa’s departure, perhaps reading the slight tension in the Acheron’s shoulders as she perched herself at her room’s vanity. If Elain was rational, then she would be obsessing over Vassa, of what she said and the look in her eye as she spoke. She would try and unfurl the dynamic she was to expect at breakfast tomorrow, when the world was still dark.

But she was thinking of him.

Lucien was different here, and Elain realised that she’d never seen him out of the Night Court. In fact, all at once the chaste meetings they’d had thus far seemed entirely, hilariously inadequate.

He was otherworldly, something about him seemed more fae than the others, even the Illyrian’s with their beautiful wings. Lucien was fire and light in form. His hair, no mortal could even imagine hair like that. In fact, Elain was convinced that even Feyre couldn’t capture it’s essence in her paintings. It was ever-changing, always moving and shifting colours in the light, almost as though it were alive. When she’d first seen him in the Night Court it had been a paler, autumnal orange with what seemed to be streaked with glittering gold. But here, by the candlelight of Lockhart manor, it was the red of rust and blood.

His skin was made of tan plains that rose and fell over the contours of his body in a way that reminded Elain of the deserts she’d seen drawn in adventure books. And then there was his impossible height, taller than everyone, including those back at the Night Court, only beating Cassian by an inch. He had a presence in a room like no other, he demanded intrigue and interest, with his mismatched eyes and brutal scar.

Maybe Elain had only been so nervous of Lucien because of that reason. Because she was used to seeing men who appeared to have not quite come into their bodies, their chins loose with excess skin, their hair wiry and coarse. And Lucien…Lucien looked as though he’d had hundreds of years to hone his body. Tall and sharp, standing with a poise that reminded Elain of a blade. His eyes alert and always moving, and a mouth that quirked to the side, as though there was always some dirty joke resting on the tip of his tongue.

Guilt moved through Elain in a wave. First, guilt over Graysen, then guilt over Azriel. Both men whom she’d also found to be beautiful, in their own ways. The innocence of Graysen, which in hindsight, proved to be a hilarious interpretation. The mystery of Azriel, the way that even when she was convinced he wanted her, she was never entirely sure.

Perhaps it wasn’t guilt that washed through Elain, but rather dread. Because here she was, again, and all she could hear was her mother’s voice echoing in her mind – Foolish girl. Foolish, foolish girl. Her mother would tell her that she never learns.

Or maybe she wouldn’t. She’d only admitted to herself that Lucien was attractive, his eyes searing, looking every bit of the fae prince as he swung open the door, backlit by gold and red light. And the bond was supposed to make her find him attractive, right? She could consult the book she’d brought later. Because that was the problem – what was real and what was the bond? Did Lucien truly care for her? Would he have even looked her way if the bond hadn’t existed? No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t be convinced. Lucien was suited to the bold courage of Nesta or even the quick-wit of Feyre. Elain was brutally soft. Men like Lucien didn’t care for the delicate - right?

“I’m sorry to take you from your sister, Nuala,” Elain whispered, as her friend began to comb through her dripping hair.

“It’s no problem,” Nuala’s voice was like velvet, and in the mirror, Elain could see her eyes were soft and her mouth turned up at the corners. “Sometimes getting away from family can be good for you.”

Elain hummed in response as Nuala began to knot her hair into a crown of elegant braids so that her hair would dry with a curl.

[acourtofthought]

"Sarah set up Lucien to have a connection to that and if he's connected to the mask it means he's also likely connected to the Starborn and the events of the past."

Respectfully, I don't think this is accurate.

Helion reacted in a very negative manner towards the Mask. Compare that to Bryce who can use the Horn and Mask with complete ease (and other Cauldron-made items, like Gwydion and TT). Bryce has a positive reaction to these items. It's not at all the same.

The Starborn are also a lineage. The Starborn in Prythian are those who descend from Silene, which is Rhys. This again has nothing to do with Helion and Lucien.

If anyone else is possibly Starborn, it’s Azriel, as Bryce wonders if he has Starborn blood (which ties into the long held fandom theories that perhaps Rhys and Azriel are related — which, points for Elucien if so!)

The only small connection you could make is with the Autumn King in CC; but that's because the Starborn line (Helene), at some point, bred with fire-wielding Fae (who once journeyed from the Autumn Court, 15,000+ years ago). But again, this is a completely separate world and has nothing to do with Prythian.

And respectfully I disagree with you.

The Starborn are a lineage but not only descendents of Theia and Theia alone.

Pelias was Starborn too, the first Starborn prince. Yet he's not an heir of Theia.

And from the Starborn (including Theia) came the power to wield the light from a star for some as well as powers of shadow (Silenes gift) for others (the NC)

In CC3, Bryce's power of light merge with the darker power left behind in the Prison and which makes her new light a blend of the two.

Helion possesses the literal light of the sun. Which is a star.

Theia left the prison lands to Silene, her heir, where the Pegasus once lived.

In SF, Sarah introduced the Pegasus to the acotar world and made it so only Helion has the remaining Pegasus. Which originally came from the "Dusk Court". Which initially belonged to Theia.

Theia - once got her hands on the Trove items, the Pegasus on the Prison lands, and the power of starlight.

Helion - has the power of a star (the sun), the only remaining Pegasus, and a connection to a Trove item through his ancestors.

Lucien is his son.

And just we didn't see on page consequences from Bryce or Hunt wielding the mask one time doesn't mean anything:

Bryce could take it off once because she's Starborn, Nesta can take it off because she's Made but we don't see Nesta have a positive reaction to her repeated use of wearing the mask in HOFAS, do we? Azriel was thanking the mother that Nesta could finally free herself from it.

If Helions ancestor wore the mask, enough that the cost is now imprinted on their descendents that suggests they were capable of wearing it and removing it too, hence the ability to reproduce and pass down the cost through blood.

Everything points to Helions ancestors also having been Starborn.

The Trove items aren't a positive thing for anyone in the end as they were created by the Asteri but only the strongest seem capable of wearing them and surviving.

Also, you're ignoring that Az is like Cormac and Cormac is not Starborn. You ran with the first part of Bryce's statement while ignoring the second:

"Or maybe his possession of the knife somehow allowed him to also bear the Starsword."

We know the sword and dagger call to one another which is the most likely reason Az could hold them both though he was quite uncomfortable with them being near one another. If he was Starborn then shouldn't he have been comfortable rather than twitchy at first? He has the dagger that belonged to Enalius which we know Theia later imbued with her power the same as she did Gwydion. That is Az's only current connection, the dagger (so he may be descended from Enalius) and the dagger was layer connected to the sword by Theia.

Az is most likely not Starborn otherwise every single Illyrian is Starborn including Cassian. His shadows are also much different from Rhys's and he has no light power therefore I don't think Bryce trying to puzzle through what Az actually is is any sort of evidence.

We won't know for sure until new acotar books are released but chances of Lucien being Starborn are much greater than Az or any of the other characters (aside from Rhys and Mor).

[fieldofdaisiies]

Elucien | Pearls

I already posted a drabble concerning them and pearls, but I just love the idea too much. It is an excerpt from my Elucien Week post and inspired by Outlander:

“What is this?” Elain queried when her mate neared her.

“What does it look like?” The corner’s of Lucien’s mouth tipped up, standing naked before his mate with just a necklace in his hands. 

“A pearl necklace…” she breathed, finding herself unable to solely look at the item and not constantly drool over her mate’s nude body.

Lucien dipped his chin and crouched down in front of her. “From my mother. She gave it to me when I was very young, before I left the Autumn Court obviously. She told me to one day give it to my mate.”

Burning tears filled Elain’s eyes when she accepted the present and let Lucien place it around her neck. The necklace was one of the most precious things he had owned. It would from now on belong to his mate who from now on was the most precious thing in his life. 

[kingandfireheart]

What stories are left in ACOTAR: Elain edition

It is likely that the next installment of the ACOTAR series will cover Elain Archeron. Elain is probably the least developed character of the Inner Circle, and the only character (other than Amren and Lucien) whose perspective we haven’t seen yet. This post details her trauma, the issue of choice, Elain’s personality, the sweet innocent Elain image, and her various roles. 

Elain will definitely have to face her past trauma, which include:  

Graysen: grief, feeling of betrayal

The Cauldron and being kidnapped: trauma, feeling violated, becoming high fae

Her father: grief

Sisters: having a role in the Night Court, belonging there, being protected

Choices: 

Before I get into Elain’s role, I want to talk about a huge thing for Elain, which is choice. Rhysand spends ACOMAF and ACOWAR showing Feyre that she always has choices. Nesta struggles with this in ACOSF, and while Nesta does make choices to be more active - she kills the Kelpie, saves Feyre, saves her friends, she choses Cassian, and kills Briallyn. 

“I am not a thing to be controlled by you”, Nesta said icily. Everything in her life, from the moment she was born, had been controlled by other people. Things happened to her; anytime she tried to exert control, she’d been thwarted at every turn -- and she hated that even more than the King of Hybern.

Elain, who has suffered much of the same trauma as Nesta, will make her own choices in her book. Those choices will involve who she ends up with (I refuse to get into the Elucien/Elriel debacle here - I like both!), how she wields her power (as a seer, as high fae, as a Made person, as the Cauldron’s favorite, as a political pawn), and what she makes of the situations that happened to her. 

Elain has already shown that she can make good on a bad situation in ACOWAR, I’m excited to see how she keeps that up in her book: 

“This could end very badly, Elain.” // She brushed her thumb over the iron-and-diamond engagement ring. “It’s already ended badly. Now it’s just a matter of deciding how we meet the consequences.” (ACOWAR)

“I know your circumstances for coming here were awful, Nesta, but it doesn’t mean you need to be so miserable about it.” (ACOSF)

Sweet Innocent Elain: 

Elain’s persona in the Inner Circle is a sweet and innocent girl. She loves gardening and cooking. She is kind and cares about things like manners and propriety. Here are a few quotes that show that: 

Elain had always been gentle and sweet—and I had considered it a different sort of strength. A better strength. To look at the hardness of the world and choose, over and over, to love, to be kind. She had been always so full of light. (ACOWAR)

“You’re still lovely,” Mor said a bit gently. Elain offered a half smile. “I suppose that war makes wanting things like that unimportant.”Mor was quiet for a heartbeat. “Perhaps. But you should not let war steal it from you regardless.” (ACOWAR)

“What now?” Elain mused, at last answering my question from moments ago as her attention drifted to the windows facing the sunny street. 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.” (ACOWAR)

“I wonder if everyone has spent so long assuming Elain is sweet and innocent that she felt she had to be that way or else she’d disappoint you all.” “With time and safety, perhaps we’ll see a different side of her emerge.”(ACOSF Bonus Chapter)  

We know that there is a lot more to Elain than anyone gives her credit for - Cassian, Amren, Rhys, and even Nesta point this out on different occasions in ACOSF: 

Cassian: “Nesta was wrong to think Elain as loyal and loving as a dog. Elain saw every single thing Nesta had done, and understood why.”

Amren: “Elain, who is more than capable of defending herself against the darkness of the Trove, if she chooses to. Don’t underestimate her.”

Rhys: “I also think we haven’t seen all she has to offer. “Don’t forget that gardening often results in something pretty, but it involves getting one’s hands dirty along the way” “And torn up by thorns”

Nesta: “Elain stiffened, but refused to balk from whatever she beheld in Nesta’s gaze. “You think I’m to blame for his death? Challenge laced each word. Challenge - from Elain of all people. 

We also see Elain starting to take back her power in ACOSF when she steps up to look for the Dread Trove

“You do not decide what I can and cannot do, Nesta.”

“You can’t have it both ways. You cannot resent my decision to lead a small, quiet life while also refusing to let me do anything greater.”

“I am not a child to be fought over”

“I went into the Cauldron too, you know. And it captured me. And yet somehow all you think of it what my trauma did to you.”

Elain’s Roles: 

Sister: Elain has long been a mediator between Nesta and Feyre. She is the calmness that complements each of their fire, she is the one they each seek to protect. (I’m thinking of SJM’s fire/ice/stone metaphor for Manon, Asterin, and Sorrel). However, she is able to fight for what she wants with each of them, and use her skills to her advantage. Elain shows Feyre her remorse for the years when they are poor, which is why Elain and Nesta step up to help with the Mortal Queens.

 “Feyre gave and gave—for years. Let us now help her. Help … others.” (ACOMAF)

“And as for Feyre’s hunting during those years, it was not Nesta’s neglect alone that is to blame. We were scared, and had received no training, and everything had been taken, and we failed her. Both of us.” (ACOMAF)

Sweet, innocent Elain who vomited from the violence on the battlefields, who recoiled from Cassian’s weapons, does show that she is willing to fight for her sisters. 

Elain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed Truth-Teller to the hilt through the back of the king’s neck as she snarled in his ear, “Don’t you touch my sister.”

Seer: Elain seemed to gain clarity once she realized what she was seeing. She says she can control her Seer talk, and actually uses this power to help Feyre find the Suriel in ACOWAR, and offers to do the same with the Dread Trove.  It isn’t clear if Elain’s refusal to acknowledge her powers stems from fear, lack of acceptance, or just the fact that she needed to be normal before she can embrace her new life. 

“Are you asking me that as her sister, or as a seer?” (ACOFAS)

“Then I will find it. I might require some time to ... reacquaint myself with my powers, but I could start today.” (ACOSF)

Made and Cauldron’s Favorite: Just like Nesta and Feyre, Elain is Made. All of the Like Calls to Like logic that applies to Feyre in ACOMAF with the Cauldron and the Book of Breathings and Nesta in ACOSF with the Dread Trove applies to Elain. Now that Nesta’s power is limited,  Elain may have to step up and use her power to help find the fourth Dread Trove item or with a new Cauldron-related task. The big distinguishing factor here is that the Cauldron likes Elain. 

The Cauldron purred in Elain’s presence as the King of Hybern slumped to his knees, clawing at the knife jutting through his throat. Elain backed away a step.

The Cauldron seemed to realize what she’d done, too, as his head thumped onto the mossy ground. That Elain … Elain had defended this thief. Elain, who it had gifted with such powers, found her so lovely it had wanted to give her something … It would not harm Elain, even in its hunt to reclaim what had been taken.

“You were Made by the Cauldron. You may track other objects Made by it as well... and because you are Made by it, you are immune to the influence and power of the Trove. You might use them, yes, but they cannot be used upon you.” 

Lucien’s Mate: Elain hasn’t been raised with the mating bond, she doesn’t care for it in ACOWAR when she tries to win Graysen back, but it is possible that after almost two years in the Night Court, and watching both of her sisters accept their bonds, that she may want to acknowledge it, or at least understand it. Being Lucien’s Mate also makes Elain a political pawn. Her presence in the Night Court ensures Lucien’s loyalty, and given that Lucient has ties to 3 of the seven courts and the human lands. Elain could potentially wield the power of those alliances (or destroy them based on her relationship with Lucien). 

“You are his mate. Do you even know what that means?”// “It means nothing,” Elain said, her voice breaking. “It means nothing. I don’t care who decided it or why they did—”// “You belong to him.”//“I belong to no one. But my heart belongs to you.”(ACOWAR)

“You couldn’t say a single word to him? A pleasant greeting?//“He brought you a present”// “And that entitles him to my time, my affections?”// “No. He is a good male. He cares for you.”// “He doesn’t know me.” //“You don’t give him the chance to even try to do so.”//“I don’t want a mate. I don’t want a male” (ACOFAS)

Elain, the wretch, had taken the seat between Feyre and Varian, about as far from Lucien as she could get.

Cassian’s heart strained at the pain etching deep into Lucien’s face as he tried to hide his disappointment and longing. Elain only shrank further into herself, no trace of that newfound boldness to be seen. 

Member of the Inner Circle: Elain insists that she is a member of the Night Court in ACOSF, and offers her help in tracking down the Dread Trove. . She is already an active member at Inner Circle dinners (seen in ACOFAS and ACOSF), and those bonds could continue to grow. 

“And he knew the cruelty of the Hewn City troubled her. But she hadn’t hesitated to come. When Feyre had offered to let her remain home, Elain had squared her shoulders and declared she was a part of this court -- and would do whatever was needed. ... He’d never once in the two years he’d known her found Elain to be plain, but wearing black, no matter how much she claimed to be part of this court... It sucked the life from her.”

Nuala and Cerrdiwen’s Friend: Elain has befriended the two half-wraiths who spy for both Azriel and Rhys. Give Elain’s powers for persuasion (”my sister Elain can convince anyone to do anything with a few smiles”)  and observation (”Nesta never spoke if afterward, I just observed”// “Elain’s brown eyes flickered, well aware of all that.” ), she could make an interesting spy or courtier.

“They’d spent more time with Elain than even I had. They understood her moods, what she sometimes needed.” (ACOFAS)

Nesta started, not having heard her sister approach She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if she’d been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends. (ACOSF)