S6 : Ep 14 - ACOSF : Azriel Bonus Chapter

Summary

Flights of Fantasy — S6 Ep 14

ACOSF: Azriel Bonus Chapter (Released: April 28, 2026)

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Episode Overview

In this special episode, the Flights of Fantasy hosts—Anna, Kim, and Christina—dive deep into Azriel's bonus chapter from the Books-A-Million edition of A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas. With ACOTAR 6 and 7 on the horizon, the trio revisits this pivotal, fandom-sparking extra chapter, dissecting key moments and implications for ships, lore, and theories. The discussion is peppered with their signature blend of bookish humor, detailed textual analysis, and animated banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: When Does the Bonus Chapter Happen?

• Context: The chapter takes place on Winter Solstice, coinciding with the closing scenes of A Court of Silver Flames. (02:30)
• Mood: Celebration is over, the house is quiet, and we catch Azriel in a contemplative and emotionally charged moment.

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2. Azriel & Elain: The Forbidden, Tension-Filled Gift Exchange

• Gift Exchange: Elain shyly gives Azriel earplugs (for "obvious reasons"—Nesta and Cassian's amorous noise), while Azriel prepares to give Elain a delicate rose necklace made from stained glass. (03:09–05:18)
  • "This is beautiful. This is the epitome of Elain...It's very delicate." — Kim, 05:02
• Sexual Tension: The hosts relish the scene’s slow-burn yet forbidden intensity, noting how even the smallest gesture escalates emotionally and physically.
  • "The sexual tension is delicious in this scene. It is hot. The chemistry...really good." — Kim, 07:00
  • "He needed her coming on his tongue." (reading Azriel’s inner monologue) — Kim, 08:47
• Self-Worth, Trauma, and Pedestals:
  • Azriel’s inner monologue is fraught with self-loathing and unworthiness; he fixates on the “sacrilege” of touching Elain, drawing unhealthy parallels between his traumas and Elain’s fragility. (14:16)
  • "Sacrilege and tainting her with his presence is not language that is healthy to think about a romantic partner and touching them." — Christina, 15:27
• Is the Mating Bond with Lucien Valid?:
  • The hosts explore fan theories about “cauldron-blessed” vs. “mother-blessed” mating bonds and the possibility that Azriel and Elain could be mates, but overall find SJM’s intent to be more straightforward: Elain and Lucien are canonically mates, whether or not Elain chooses it. (05:36–11:39)

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3. Revisiting Old Theories: Could Azriel and Elain Be Endgame?

• Azriel’s “Not Chosen” Insecurity: His frustration at seeing his brothers with two Archeron sisters sparks discussion about his recurring fear of being left out.
  • "Why am I not chosen? Why am I left?" — Anna, 19:47
• Fan Theories: Although the possibility of the Cauldron making a mistake is acknowledged, hosts believe SJM is direct—if someone is a mate, they are a mate.
• Speculation on Future Relationships: Hosts predict that Azriel and Elain will explore their connection, but it’s unlikely they’ll be endgame; the tension will serve the plot and character dynamics, likely propelling both toward their true paths. (12:02)

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4. Rhysand Intervenes: The Scolding & the Power Dynamic

• Confrontation Scene: Rhysand interrupts Azriel and Elain's near-kiss, summoning Azriel for a stern lecture in his office. (17:20–19:15)
  • "You believe you deserve to be her mate?" — Rhysand (via Christina), 18:26
• Delivery & Tone: The hosts take issue with Rhysand's harsh, almost out-of-character tone:
  • "If you need to fuck someone, go to a pleasure hall and pay for it. But stay away from her. Snarl all you want. But if I see you panting after her again, I'll make you regret it." — Rhysand, quoted by Christina, 28:07
  • "It is so out of character...like, there is never a scenario where I think he would speak to his brothers and say, 'I'll make you regret it', in this way." — Christina, 28:08
• Leadership vs. Brotherhood: While they understand Rhys’s need to consider the court's political climate and potential consequences with Lucien (e.g., threat of a blood duel), the group agrees his lack of empathy and pulling of rank is jarring and upsetting.

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5. Lucien, Helion, and the Autumn/Day Court Plotlines

• Blood Duel Theory: The blood duel is flagged as a Chekhovian gun—important, likely to recur, possibly not between Lucien and Azriel but among Day and Autumn court players. (22:13)
  • "I think it's actually going to be Eris and Beren. I think that's how we're going to get rid of Beren." — Christina, 22:40
• Lucien’s Fate, Happiness, and Parentage: Passionate debate over Lucien’s need for happiness, the potential for him to inherit the Day Court, and hopes for justice for the Lady of the Autumn Court.

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6. Gwyn Enters: Shadows, Chemistry, and Parallels

• Azriel & Gwyn: A Study in Contrast
  • Notably, Azriel’s shadows react very differently to Gwyn versus Elain: around Elain, they skitter away; with Gwyn, they dance with her breath, peek over his wings, and appear joyful.
    • "Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him..." — Anna, reading, 33:11
    • "It's on purpose. 100%." — Kim, 33:56
  • Gwyn is unafraid of Azriel’s shadows and engages in light, genuine banter with him, unlike the fraught tension with Elain.
    • "A comfort to every growing child." — Gwyn’s remark about the dagger, 34:28
  • With Gwyn, Azriel feels at peace:
    • "Something restless settled in him. Even his shadows had calmed." — Anna, 35:57
• Music and “Settling” as Mating Bond Language?
  • The motif of music, singing, and “settling” is highlighted as fitting SJM’s pattern for describing mating bonds and true harmony between couples.
  • "He could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang an answer." — Anna, 42:13

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7. The Necklace Dilemma – Azriel’s Mess

• Passing the Necklace: Azriel gives Elain’s returned necklace to Clotho, asking her to deliver it anonymously to Gwyn—a choice the hosts predict will lead to drama and confusion.
  • "Gwen is going to be wearing the necklace. Elaine is going to see it. There's going to be drama." — Kim, 43:08
• Azriel’s Inner Glow: Giving Gwyn the necklace, even anonymously, fills him with a secret, glowing happiness—language SJM typically reserves for describing a true mating bond’s warmth. (44:19)
  • "Buried the image down deep where it glowed quietly, a thing of secret, lovely beauty." — Anna, 44:28

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8. Endgame Theories: Gwynriel, “Mates” and Authorial Intent

• Do Gwyn and Azriel Need to Be Mates?
  • The hosts weigh in: while they don’t need to be true mates for their romance to feel authentic, SJM’s worldbuilding and fandom expectations may force her hand.
    • "I worry that the fandom will not take them seriously as end game unless they are mates." — Kim, 40:05
• Chekhov’s Body Compatibility: Subtle hints—like Gwyn’s “slightly more pliant bones”—are flagged as potential setups for future plot points about Illyrian–High Fae mating and offspring.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Azriel’s Sexual Tension:
  • "He needed her coming on his tongue." — Kim, reading Azriel's inner thoughts, 08:47
• On Azriel’s Shadows with Gwyn:
  • "Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him like it heard some silent music." — Anna, 33:11
• On Rhysand’s Harshness:
  • "If you need to fuck someone, go to a pleasure hall and pay for it. But stay away from her." — Christina quoting Rhysand, 28:07
• On Rhysand Pulling Rank:
  • "It stunned Azriel enough that Rhys pulled rank, because Rhys never pulls rank." — Anna, 28:53
• On the Triangle to Come:
  • "This is going to be a love triangle. That’s what we’re doing." — Christina, 43:29

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Key Timestamps

• 02:30 — Establishing the gift exchange scene; recapping timeline
• 03:09–05:18 — Elain’s earplugs & Azriel’s rose necklace
• 07:00–08:58 — Sexual tension and the infamous inner monologue
• 14:16–16:51 — Self-worth issues; unhealthy dynamics of Azriel & Elain
• 17:20–19:47 — Rhysand interrupts the near-kiss and lectures Azriel
• 22:13–23:41 — Blood duel & Lucien/Day Court theories
• 33:11–34:28 — Azriel’s shadows and Gwyn: direct textual contrasts with Elain
• 35:57–36:18 — Discussion of mating bond language and musical motifs
• 43:05–44:19 — Azriel passes the necklace to Gwyn via Clotho
• 44:19–44:39 — Inner glow: secret, quiet happiness, and potential mating bond clues

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Final Thoughts

This episode is jam-packed with critical analysis, playful ship wars, and heartfelt readerly investment. The hosts thoughtfully engage with SJM’s text and meta, highlighting the parallels, contrasts, and complex emotional layers that make Azriel’s bonus chapter such potent fandom fuel. Whether you’re Team Elriel, Team Gwynriel, or simply along for the ride, the discussion captures both the angst and anticipation awaiting readers as ACOTAR’s next volumes loom.

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[End of Summary]

Transcript

[Christina]

This episode is brought to you by Hatch. You know when you finish a romantasy and you just need the next thing immediately Hatch has made that thing. It's called Ophelia, an original audio drama inspired by Hamlet where Ophelia finally gets to be the main character. Forbidden magic, a crumbling kingdom, a slow burn love triangle with a prince and his very guarded, very intriguing best friend. The kind of love triangle where you will absolutely pick a side and you will absolutely not be quiet about it.

[Anna]

Book one of the three part series is now available for free wherever you stream, with new chapters dropping every Tuesday. For books two and three, check out Hatch Co Ophelia.

[Christina]

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[Kim]

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[Anna]

Welcome to Flights of Fantasy, your Romantasy Podcast book club. I'm Anna, joined by my book besties Kim and Christina, and together we're diving into the characters, theories, lore and magic behind all your favorite fantasy romance books.

[Christina]

Hello listeners and welcome to this very special ACOTAR episode where we will be covering Asriel's bonus chapter from A Court of Silver Flames. This episode previously lived over on our Patreon, and we're so excited to bring it over here to main feed as we all start to prep for ACOTAR 6 and 7. And speaking of prepping, you can find the link to all of our Acotar Throne of Glass and Crescent City episodes and their respective Spotify playlists in the show notes below. And don't forget about our mass masterclass happening over on Patreon where we're bringing all of our SJMPHD knowledge, we're breaking down theories, backstories, and so much more as we all ramp up for this pivotal moment in all of our lives. So without further ado, we hope you enjoy this deep dive into Azriel's bonus chapter.

[Kim]

Okay, let's get to what we're really here for, because I am.

[Christina]

I'm so excited.

[Kim]

So pumped you guys.

[Anna]

All right, so we are obviously here discussing Asriel's bonus chapter from the End of A Court of Silver Flame, but this was specifically in the Books A Million Special edition. But let's set the scene. This chapter takes place the night of winter solstice. The same winter solstice that's in Akisoff, where Cassian gives Nesta the Symphonia. And they have their beautiful. Professing their love. It's great. The mating bond clicks into place, although they don't acknowledge it.

[Christina]

Yep, Yep. Big night.

[Anna]

The night before, the bat boys have their big snowball fight. The party's over. Everyone's retired to their rooms, and it's just Asriel walking around being this little sexy shadow singer, so.

[Kim]

That's right.

[Anna]

So, Kim, will you kick us off?

[Kim]

You know I will, but I just. I need to gain some clarity on the opening of this situation. Okay. And I need you to weigh in and is. Is it my type A ocd or is this what families do? So Asriel's walking around in the main area that they were all exchanging presents in.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Number one, he notes that everyone just left their piles of presents in the room amidst wrapping paper. You're telling me Reese was not the garbage bag? Dad, he did not have the bag. Picking up the pieces. And then everyone goes, okay, great fun, everybody. And then just nobody picked up a single present to, like, I don't know, go put it away in the correct. They were just like, well, goodbye.

[Christina]

What do you mean?

[Kim]

No one picked up any wrapping paper? Like, what do you mean?

[Christina]

What do you mean?

[Anna]

I'm refolding tissue paper to use next year.

[Kim]

Yes, of course.

[Anna]

If it's not torn up and like, wrinkly. I'm like, that's a nice piece. We'll save that one.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

My mom saves all her bows because she spends so much time making them.

[Anna]

All the bows.

[Christina]

Yes. No, this is Kim.

[Kim]

You are.

[Christina]

You are in the right. Strange behavior.

[Kim]

Thank you.

[Anna]

Yeah, it is.

[Kim]

So regardless, Az there, he doesn't want to go upstairs because he's feeling a lot of feelings, as our sweet boy does, and keeps them inside. And Elain tiptoes down the stairs because she wants to put Azriel's present from her in the family room with all the other gifts that are just sitting

[Christina]

there in the piles.

[Kim]

In the piles amidst the wrapping paper. But it's fine. So Azriel opens it and their earplugs so that he doesn't have to listen to Cassian and Nesta just going to pound town 16 times times a day.

[Anna]

Love it. Which they probably do.

[Kim]

They definitely do.

[Christina]

This was hilarious. I love it.

[Kim]

This was so cute. And Elaine gives him such thoughtful gifts. If you remember last Winter solstice. She gave him the headache powder that he then says he just puts it on his bedside table and stares at it and doesn't use it. And I'm like, all right, that's weird behavior.

[Christina]

Like, you could keep the jar as a memento.

[Kim]

Right.

[Anna]

It's bizarre.

[Kim]

I bet it's refillable. I bet it's eco friendly. You can refill it.

[Anna]

Like something special. It's just a headache powder, but it's from.

[Christina]

It's from Elaine.

[Kim]

Okay. So she gives him the earplugs and he loves it. Whatever. And then he has a gift for Elaine, which is a beautiful dainty necklace with a small rose charm made from stained glass. This is beautiful. This is the epitome of Elaine. You know, like, it's very delicate.

[Anna]

Yes.

[Kim]

And when you hold it up to the light, it shines through. Gorgeous. So he's talking about why he couldn't give it to her earlier. And he says because her mate had been in the family room and Azrael had needed to stay by the door the whole time because he couldn't stand the sight of it, the scent of their mating bond, and. And needed to have the option of leaving if it became too much.

[Christina]

Wow. This is where we are with them, with the whole trio.

[Kim]

So number one scent of her mating bond for everybody. That's like Elaine and Lucian aren't really ma. I. I think they are. Yes, I think they are.

[Christina]

I think they are. I did read a very interesting theory recently a few times in different places. There's chitter chatter that maybe there are two different kinds of mating bonds. There is mother blessed mating bond and cauldron blessed mating bond. And therefore the cauldron mating bonds are ones that they're actually not really supposed to be together like Reese's parents. It's just like for logistics for having babies that are powerful, but the mother blessed mating bonds are. You're actually in love, like Rhys and Feyre and like Nesta and Cassian. And the thought is that the cauldron blessed mating bond with Lucian and Elain, we know, happened the second she got out of that cauldron. That is a cauldron maiden bond.

[Kim]

True, true.

[Christina]

Now, that being said, that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. It's just some people are then saying maybe she has two mates and she has a mother blessed mating bond with Azriel. I don't think so. I think you'd have one or the other. But I think it's interesting to think maybe there are different kinds. Maybe because really, it is messy that some of them are love and you're in love with each other. Some of them are bad matches. Like, it just doesn't really.

[Kim]

Yeah, I agree. I absolutely agree. Yeah. Okay. So he gives her the necklace, whatever, and she's like, put it on me.

[Anna]

Just like that.

[Kim]

She's breathy and just like doe eyed looking up.

[Christina]

Her eyes are huge and you can barely hear her. She's like, put it on me.

[Kim]

Just so delicate.

[Christina]

It's. And it's the most delicate, fragile fragrance flower that Azriel's ever wanted. It's everything.

[Kim]

Absolutely. I will say, guys, the sexual tension is delicious in this scene. It is hot. The chemistry, it is really good.

[Anna]

I would argue that Azriel could have chemistry with a brick wall.

[Kim]

He's like, Jonathan Bailey. I agree with you.

[Christina]

Yes. But I. Yeah, we can't deny it exists though. And it is really forbidden. We're in a historical romance.

[Kim]

Naughty moment. Yes.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Because Elain, I will move on. But if you have watched Bridgerton, Francesca Bridgerton, the actress that plays her, is the ideal Elaine Archeron cast. Go, go look up Francesca Bridgerton. So Elaine, the delicate. Like just the most gorgeous flower ever. Okay. So that's who we're picturing for. Elaine. Okay. God damn it, Anna.

[Anna]

Sorry.

[Kim]

9:50 in the morning. Okay.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Kim]

I've only had one cup of coffee. Here we go. Okay.

[Christina]

God, I love when it's not me.

[Kim]

Anna's like, I'll switch it up and give it to Kim. Give Christina a little break.

[Anna]

You gotta do it.

[Kim]

Okay. This is interesting, though. So I'm gonna read it and then we're gonna dissect some of this. Got it here. Okay, so he's. He's putting knuckles on Azriel's fingers, lingered at her nape atop the first knob of her spine. Slowly, Elaine pivoted into his touch until his palm lay flat against her neck. It had never gone this far. They'd exchanged looks, the occasional brush of their fingers, but never this. Never blatant, unrestricted touching. Wrong. It was so wrong, he didn't care.

[Christina]

God, I love that.

[Anna]

What is it wrong if it feels so right?

[Kim]

So right. Okay, I'm gonna read this just because I need this book like I need air to breathe. Because if this is what we're working with from Azriel.

[Christina]

Right. Okay.

[Anna]

Give it to us.

[Kim]

Give it to us. Nobody, Nobody look at me. Just look away. Okay. He didn't care. He needed to know what the skin of her neck tasted like. What those perfect lips tasted like.

[Anna]

Her Breast.

[Kim]

Her sex. I don't like when people refer to. I just don't like that. But it was. He needed her coming on his tongue.

[Anna]

Sir, sir.

[Kim]

I would like to read that.

[Christina]

I would like to read that.

[Kim]

I would really like to read that.

[Christina]

Wow. The tease. Sarah. This is his inner monologue, guys. This is just free flowing in his brain.

[Kim]

Exactly.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

On a casual evening.

[Anna]

He's so sexually frustrated. Literally, he's like, the parts of me are tight and wound up.

[Christina]

This was so hot. There's a lot here. A lot here. Also, the forbidden thing, it's wrong. It's so wrong.

[Anna]

I do love that aspect.

[Kim]

Oh, I love it. I love it.

[Christina]

I think it's fun. I do. I think where we teeter totter into not great is when it's wrong because of Azriel's self worth. Not it's wrong because it's forbidden. But that's a fine line to walk.

[Anna]

I agree.

[Kim]

Sure. And we don't know because he's not explicitly stating why it's wrong.

[Christina]

I mean, I think it's Lucian in general. Like, she has a mate.

[Kim]

Yes, absolutely.

[Christina]

I do have to note that, like, it's never gone this far. We've never touched. I've never. They've been this close to her. Granted, it is an intimate moment because we can hear his thoughts, but all he's doing is putting a necklace on.

[Kim]

That's it.

[Christina]

Like, this is the level of touching and the fact that it's like. Oh, God.

[Kim]

He literally has his hand on her neck and he instantly goes to. I need her coming on my tongue. Okay, right, hold on.

[Anna]

I skipped a few steps, sir.

[Kim]

I mean, I love it.

[Christina]

It's simultaneously the slowest burn and also too fast. Like, I don't understand.

[Kim]

He's like, no breaks. He's like, no. You know what I mean?

[Christina]

Because it's been years.

[Kim]

Right?

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Right.

[Kim]

Okay, so let's move forward. Now we're gonna talk about Elriel because we wouldn't be doing our job. And there are absolutely signs that El Riel could be a thing. The best argument we think for El is back in Acowor when no one knows what's wrong with Elain. If you remember Madra, the head of the healer says that if anyone was going to be able to figure out what was wrong with her, it would be her mate.

[Anna]

Right.

[Kim]

So they put Elain and Lucien in a room together. He can't figure it out.

[Anna]

No, he can't. He's a dumb.

[Kim]

Dumb, you know, just. That's not what he's here for. And then Azriel walks in and basically immediately goes, oh, she's a seer. And so people think that this is proof that Azriel is her real mate, not Lucien, and that the Cauldron either made a mistake or the mating bond was fabricated. Which Azrael does also, in his delusional mind, think the Cauldron made a mistake.

[Anna]

Made a mistake, yeah.

[Christina]

Feyre also questions it too, at some point. Theres.

[Kim]

That's right. Yes.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Which, you know, okay, that is a thing. But I just think. I don't know how to say this without being. I love Sarah. I don't think she's doing that much. I think she's pretty straightforward in a lot of stuff.

[Anna]

I would agree. I think, like, well, no spoilers for other series, but she has been pretty explicit about, like, I told you what they were. Why don't you just take it at face value? And then people run away with their own theories. And she's absolutely, literally said that they're mates.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

And she said about other books that she's written, like, it's not that.

[Kim]

No, it's canon. And like, listen, we love to go down a rabbit hole and be crazy, but when it comes to. I just think Sarah's not gonna do that much. Like, she's gonna just keep it pretty. What you see is what you get. So I don't think they made a mistake. Now, does that mean Elaine has to accept the baby bond? Absolutely.

[Anna]

No.

[Kim]

No.

[Christina]

Right.

[Anna]

We've said we actually think it would be very interesting to see a mating bond not accepted.

[Christina]

Exactly.

[Anna]

I don't know where it goes from there, but yeah.

[Christina]

But yeah. I think at this point that we have had too much buildup with El Ril to not do something. I think we're gonna see them together. I think at this point, like, having all of this, it's not gonna be like, well, nevermind, that's never gonna happen. I think we're gonna see it. I just don't think it's endgame. I think it's what he needs in the moment to get him to Gwen. And what she needs to, like, understand that she really wants Lucian or where she needs to be. I don't think we're gonna get this next book and just ignore it.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

This episode is brought to you by Hatch. You know, when you finish a romantasy and you just need the next thing immediately. Hat thing. It's called Ophelia, an original audio drama inspired by Hamlet, where Ophelia finally gets to be the main character, forbidden magic, a crumbling kingdom, a slow burn love triangle with a prince and his very guarded, very intriguing best friend. The kind of love triangle where you will absolutely pick a side and you will absolutely not be quiet about it.

[Anna]

Book one of the three part series is now available for free wherever you stream with new chapters dropping every Tuesday. For books two and three, check out Hatch co Ophelia.

[Kim]

Are you really buying a car online on Autotrader right now?

[Christina]

Really? I can get super specific with dealer listings and see cars based on my budget. You can really have it delivered or pick it up.

[Anna]

Mommy's walking.

[Kim]

I think kid is walking up the slide.

[Christina]

Really? Autotrader, buy your car online. Really?

[Kim]

Okay.

[Christina]

Okay.

[Kim]

So to the whole argument that Azriel's the one that figured out she was a seer, he's a shadow singer. He's incredibly intuitive. His shadows whisper and talk to him. I think that played a part into it. I don't necessarily think it's because he's her mate. I think that's just part of his skill set.

[Anna]

Yeah, he's observant.

[Kim]

Yes, exactly.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

So Shin is not known for that. He's not. And you guys, not everybody can be. We all have different strengths and that's okay.

[Christina]

That's okay.

[Kim]

You know, we just. Everybody has their own things going on. So obviously Azriel has these feelings. I just need to know. Christina did a fantastic job deep diving this in her Gwen Real cauldron chat that you must go watch.

[Anna]

It's so good.

[Kim]

But just a note talking about Azriel's shadows around Elain. Elain sucked in a soft breath that whispered over his skin. His shadows skittered back at the sound. They'd always been prone to vanish when she was around.

[Christina]

I want everyone remember that quote because we're going to read a direct parallel when we get to. But I also want to say too just really quickly on EL about like the language used in this part directly relating to Azriel's self worth is so at times actually hard to read. He says things like az tried not to look at his scarred fingers as they took the gift. Like he's noting how his scars can't be around her because she's too precious. And like he says, sliding the necklace around her, letting his scarred fingers touch her immaculate skin. Like the self worth there and the self hatred of his own scars. And like his battles. And then she looked up at him, her face so trusting and hopeful and open that he knew that she had no idea he had done unspeakable things and had sullied his hands full far beyond their scars. Such terrible things that it was sacrilege for his fingers to touch her skin. Tainting her with his presence. Like sacrilege and tainting her with his presence is not language that is healthy to think about a romantic partner and touching them. You know what I mean? Like, I don't know how we get past that.

[Anna]

I agree. And it's not that like there are books where we've read where the male or the female character feels so unworthy and all of that. But there is an equal footing about them and there's. It's more over the course of like three books that we see this come about. And so far, the way Sarah has been doing these spin offs, it's. You get a. Cassie and Nesta get a book. Asriel and Elaine or Elaine and Lucien or whatever are gonna get a book. So I feel like that's good. I mean, not to say that you can't look at freaking Nesta's journey, but I do think that to your point, it's like really hard. Those words are so hard to come back from. And then you take also the way that he looks at her. Christina, you and I talked about in Acafas with like the pitying. How he looks at her with pity. Not with this longing, loving. It's more. I feel like a sense of like obligation. Like a sense of like wanting to protect.

[Kim]

I would say he's very protective over a lot.

[Anna]

He is. But it feels. It feels like it's. I feel like we said this before. I feel like he sees his mother and he couldn't save or protect his mother in the way that he wanted to as a boy. So I feel like he sees Elaine as this like little perfect flower that he wants to preserve. And that's not healthy.

[Kim]

Well, yeah. You can't put someone on a pedestal like that.

[Christina]

That's not. Yeah, well. And I think some of this, like, you know, him tainting her with his presence and all this stuff, like, I think if. If nothing else, this is just setting up and building up the dynamic that he feels so unworthy. And that is a through line for all the bat boys.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

But this feels like a different kind of unworthy. He is putting on this relationship already. Yes. Before they're even together.

[Kim]

Great point. Okay, so they almost kissed. This moment is really hot. Like she says, it's so hot. She's like, yes. And he like puts his hands in her hair and she closes her eyes and they're about to kiss. And I was. I honestly was like, kiss, please kiss.

[Anna]

Just do it.

[Kim]

We are all sexually frustrated. Like, I was like, I was into this.

[Anna]

I was, too.

[Christina]

I think we're going to see it. I think we're going to see them together in some way.

[Kim]

But not in this scene, because Daddy Reese is there, and he's in Azriel's head. Like, Azriel. Asriel. And Azrael looks up over Elaine's shoulder, and Rhys is standing there, like, so pissed. And basically.

[Christina]

He's there.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Oh, I thought he was just in his head. Okay, got it.

[Kim]

He, like, gets his attention in his head, and then he looks up and Rhys is there and is like, come to my office. And then disappears. So Azriel steps back and he's like, I'm sorry. This was a mistake. She obviously gets really embarrassed. She's like, I'm sorry. He's like, no, God, don't. Don't ever be sorry. Like, don't apologize, you perfect angel who could never do anything wrong.

[Anna]

Perfect flower.

[Kim]

He goes up and meets with Rhysand Christina, Please, unfortunately, walk us through this scene.

[Christina]

I have such hot takes on this scene. I'm gonna save them to the end because. And I know you also have some. So let's just. We'll get through what happens first, okay? So Rhysand calls Azreal to his office. Like, he is the principal, and he is so mad. And I get it. He, likes, there's politics involved, there's optics. Like, you know, he hates the optics of. Of what Azrael's doing here. But then what Azriel pretty much says back is like, well, but isn't it fair? Like, why don't. Why don't you think that this is fair, that I also deserve this? He says, this is Asriel. The cauldron chose three sisters. Tell me how it's possible that my two brothers are with two other sisters if the third was given to another. Also in his head, he had never dared speak these words out loud. Rhys's face drained of color. You believe you deserve to be her mate? This is hard for me on a few levels. One, I do think this comes across from Rhys a little like, you think you deserve this? Which is hard to read because Azriel's feeling unworthy. Don't think Rhys would ever say this to him or be this disrespectful to him and his feelings. But fine. And that's also a whole other thing where then it's like, asriel, this is a little like throwing a tantrum. I get one too. Like, what about me?

[Anna]

Yeah, that's how I felt reading this. So the first time I read it, I remember being like, what the fuck, Rhysand? Like, how could you say that to Asriel? And then this time, I read it with the second tone that you did, which is you feel like you deserve to be her mate. Like a question. Because it's a question. And so I took that as, like, him being like, well, why do you think you deserve it and not Lucian? Obviously, we love you, Azriel, but the Cauldron chose Lucian for a reason. Like, Feyre was chosen to be my mate for a reason. And I think he leans into that. Like, Feyre was supposed to be my mate. Nesta and Cassian are mated together. Like, clearly they all believe in the Cauldron and the mother and whatever they do.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Anna]

But this line from Asriel being like, tell me how it's possible that my two brothers are with two of those sisters, yet the third was given to another. And it does, like you said, it feels a little bit like a tantrum. But it also, I feel like, is gonna be something that we explore with his insecurities, which is, why am I not chosen? Why am I left? Why do I have to watch my two best friends be so happy? And in Amren fucking has somebody.

[Kim]

Yeah, right.

[Christina]

Yeah, right.

[Kim]

Well.

[Christina]

And I think it also, this leads up to, again, putting Elain on a pedestal. This, like, the Archeron sisters are the goal. They are the end all, be all. And this Archeron sister, like, just. It fits. Like, he doesn't understand.

[Anna]

He's like, 1, 2, 3. Like, what? Yeah, why don't these go together? It's math.

[Christina]

You know what? That is another. That is a reason also why I feel like it would be too easy. Like, it doesn't make like Sarah's doing something else with this story. And it isn't that. One, two, three. It's too easy.

[Anna]

You know, one other thing also, think about the 500 years he was pining for More. He's like, can I not just win one?

[Christina]

Just once? Give me one, give me one. I did also find it fascinating that in this scene, Rhys brings up More. He said, what about?

[Kim]

Okay, see, the thing that really bugs me the most is when Rhysand's like, what about more? And I'm like, no, I don't like that. Because that's not fair. Everybody knows that More has been leading azrael on for 500 years, and I think that's shitty behavior. And that is not Azrael's fault.

[Anna]

That Mor will not just say, I don't just say I don't want to be.

[Kim]

And everybody knows it, because obviously, if she wanted to be with him, she would be with him.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Kim]

So I'm like, no, you see, that's not fair. That's not Azriel's fault. And that's.

[Christina]

It feels emotionally manipulative.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

I agree 100%.

[Kim]

Like, oh, what about Morg? What about Mor.

[Christina]

What about.

[Kim]

What about her?

[Anna]

Great. Thank you for throwing that in my face. I pined after somebody for 500 years, and he basically.

[Christina]

And I said, still didn't get her. Thank you.

[Kim]

Maybe he's like, well, yeah.

[Christina]

And you know what?

[Kim]

And I never made a move, and I never tried to make anything happen with her, and I don't want to do that again. Like, at least if Elaine doesn't want me, then I will know that I at least put myself out there for her, like, I didn't do with more. And I think that's totally fair. And I don't like that Rhys brought that up like, they're nothing. They, him and Moore have never been anything. So, like, how dare you bring that up?

[Anna]

Literally nothing physical has happened.

[Kim]

Nothing.

[Anna]

Only, like.

[Kim]

Shut up, Reese. Yeah, that bugged me. I didn't like that.

[Anna]

Yeah,

[Kim]

so take that.

[Christina]

Take that. We all did this. Like, oh, God. Okay.

[Kim]

God. Sorry.

[Christina]

So, yeah, Rhys essentially forbids Azriel from going after Elaine, and his concern is Lucian, and his concern is that Lucian's going to call in the blood duel. There is no way. We did not bring up the blood duel on purpose. The blood duel is coming back. It is going to be important. I don't think it's going to be Lucien and Asriel. I think it's actually going to be Eris and Beren. I think that's how we're gonna get rid of Beren. Oh, I would.

[Kim]

I would love that.

[Anna]

Or Helion and Beren.

[Christina]

Yes. Oh, yes. I go into this in depth in my cauldron. Chat on Helion in the Aldum court.

[Kim]

Yes. Yes.

[Anna]

That is like. I just want it to happen because I want it to be Helion being, like, the love of my life, and that's.

[Christina]

Right.

[Anna]

Fucking him up.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

What if they both die? If Helion and Baron fight and they both die, and then Lucien becomes the head of the day court.

[Kim]

Day Court and then Baron.

[Anna]

It's like, at the same time, it goes to both of them, and they realize that's how. They realize how Lucian Finds out.

[Kim]

Wait, just like with Rhysand and Tamlin, remember? At the same exact time, it goes to both of them.

[Anna]

History repeats itself. That's right. It does. My father, Mother.

[Christina]

I just want Lucian to get some happiness in his life. No, I want him to like, experience Helion. It's for the plot. Adam, give him something. I just. I feel like we're going to need his spell cleaving powers to free Vasa. I think that's going to be very important. So he's going to have to understand he has spell cleaving powers for that to happen.

[Kim]

Oh, that's a good point.

[Christina]

You know, like, it's going to have to happen. The question is, is Helium going to be dead for this learning situation or is he going to be alive and be like, let me show you the ways.

[Kim]

I want him to be alive. I agree, Christian.

[Anna]

I want him to be alive.

[Kim]

I want Helion and Lucian to be able to have some kind of a relationship. Because Lucien just knows that Baron has a father who's like the biggest piece of shit in the entire world.

[Christina]

I just feel like Lucian deserves it also. The lady of the Autumn Court deserves some hat.

[Kim]

You know what she does.

[Anna]

Listen, that woman has been put through hell.

[Kim]

She has.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

That's what I want more than anything like Lucian. Fine. But I really want to the lady of the Autumn Court to have know some happiness in this life.

[Christina]

Yeah, she deserves it again. And the lady of the Autumn Court, Helion thinks she like chose to stay there. Which she did. She made the choice to stay there. I still think there's something there with the Autumn Court magic. Somehow Baron touched her physically. The way that Aerys didn't touch Mor to tie her there.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

It was definitely her choice to go back after she had children.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

But I think that the initial choice to do this lady of the Autumn Court. She almost didn't take this pairing with Baron because of someone she met at a ball.

[Anna]

Helion, you're right.

[Christina]

I think something happened there within. The choice was taken from her. Where she was in some form touched after an arrangement was made.

[Kim]

I see.

[Christina]

This episode is brought to you by Hatch. You know when you finish a romantasy and you just need the next thing immediately Hatch has made that thing. It's called Ophelia. An original audio drama inspired by Hamlet where Ophelia finally gets to be the main character. Forbidden magic, a crumbling kingdom, a slow burn love triangle with a prince and his very guarded, very intriguing best friend. The kind of love triangle where you will absolutely pick a side and you will absolutely not be quiet about it.

[Anna]

Book one of the three part series is now available for free wherever you stream, with new chapters dropping every Tuesday. For books two and three, check out Hatch co Ophelia.

[Christina]

But let's talk about Rhys in this scene. What do we think about Rhys in this bonus chapter?

[Anna]

So like I said, I think the first time I read it, I was just like, God, it felt like he was wearing a Horcrux. We've all said that we felt like he was wearing a Horcrux through a lot of Akasoff. And I don't like what he said about more. I agree with you, Kim. But I will say I feel like him being so concerned about the op, not just the optics, but what it could mean for the future of Prythian when they are in such a tumultuous time after a war. And now we have another big bad Kosche like on the horizon. I feel like it is within his character because we've seen Rhysand be the High Lord before, but not in the way that he speaks to his inner circle. But he is still a high Lord and he still does have to maintain order. And he's not just responsible for the happiness of his inner circle, but for the safety of his entire court. And so I think when he says, I don't think you've looked at this from all angles. If you touch her in the way that makes Lucian be able to scent you on her in a sexual way, do you not understand what that will do?

[Kim]

The repercussions of that?

[Anna]

The repercussions. And Sarah has already set the stage and like laid the groundwork that the mating bond, the way that the males act in particular, is very archaic and cavemanish. We've already set that groundwork. So, like, it would track that even though Elaine has not officially accepted the mating bond, Lucien, I think he's an honorable male, but it could like, trigger

[Kim]

him in a way.

[Anna]

It could be trigger him in a way that like, is not exactly necessarily within his control.

[Kim]

Like a logical, rational response.

[Anna]

Like a logical, rational response. So I don't like that he forbid him and I don't like that. I don't like that language. But I think his concern and anger is like, fear is fear and especially cause his mate's pregnant. All of those things that go back to that kind of like, primal way the fae are. Yeah, I understand his reasoning behind it. I just don't like the way it was delivered.

[Kim]

Ooh, 100% agree.

[Christina]

I totally agree. And I think that is what makes me so riled up in this scene is how it's delivered. I think that's what I can't get past. Like, if he had said, azriel, I feel like you're not looking at this from all angles. Let's talk about how this could be primal and hard. Felucian. He didn't say that. What he said is this quote in particular. I can't get past this quote. If you need to fuck someone, go to a pleasure hall and pay for it. But stay away from her. Azriel snarls, and Rhysand says, snarl all you want. He leans back in his chair and says, but if I see you panting after her again, I'll make you regret it.

[Kim]

I don't like that.

[Christina]

It is so out of character. Like, there is never a scenario where I think he would speak to his brothers and say, I'll make you regret it in this way. I think it's disrespectful to Azriel. There's no scenario where I feel like he would disrespect Asriel. When Azriel is talking about his feelings about someone too, this through line of unworthiness for all of them. Like, he recognizes that in him. And also, Rhysand wanted to be with Feyre and she was with someone else. Like, I just think there's so many reasons why he would have been more respectful to his brother, who is his equal in this way, in this moment. And Azriel calls it out, too. It says, quote, it stunned Azriel enough that Rhys pulled rank, because Rhys never pulls rank. It stunned Asriel enough that it knocked him from his rage. And then Rhysand says, get out.

[Anna]

Like, yeah, yeah, that's tough. It's also like, give your brother essentially the benefit of the doubt. He one of the most honorable male. You've said so yourself. You've been telling everybody repeatedly how incredible your inner circle is and to not afford him the benefit here, show him a little grace. You can be angry. You can be like, what the. You can, like, you know, talk to him like a friend and be like, what the hell are you thinking, dude? Without throwing things in his face.

[Kim]

Yeah.

[Christina]

Like, that's that relationship we've set up for years. Yes. Is that respect and equalness?

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

And that this is the first time I remember Rhys acting like this to any of them.

[Anna]

Yeah, I agree, Christina.

[Kim]

Yeah, yeah. No, it's. It's very dismissive. It's very disrespectful. It's very condescending.

[Christina]

Like, this is how Tamlin would speak to Lucian.

[Kim]

Yes, yes, absolutely. This. This was giving very Tamlin. And, you know, it's interesting because there's a moment when Feyre acts like Tamlin, too, and Amren calls her out on it. And Moore's like, hey, don't say that. And Feyre was like, no, you're right. I am. I am being like Tamlin. So I. I agree. I think it's very disrespectful. I think there are aspects of it that I. I do understand. And I think that Rhysand, like other characters in Sarah's books, when you're the leader, sometimes you. You gotta do some things. War times. But I. I do agree that the language is out of line and out of bounds. Like, I'll make you regret it. And to get out, that's unnecessary.

[Christina]

And, like, snarl all you want. If I see you panting after her,

[Kim]

like, yeah, that's gross. He panted after Feyre, like, shut up. You're not better than. You're not better than Azrael.

[Christina]

Also, can you imagine at any point in Acomath while Feyre and Rhysand were together, Cassian and Azriel being like, he. Do you know how bad this looks? She's with the High Lord of Spring.

[Anna]

Yes, they all blindly supported him. The trust is earned.

[Kim]

That's the point.

[Anna]

They didn't blindly support him. They support him because they know him. They know his character. They know what his driving focus is. They know that he would never, like, hurt anybody without cause or whatever.

[Kim]

Like, give that back.

[Christina]

It is so unlike him to enforce rank. And that is what we have built for so many years with them, that this feels so weird and giant. And I think the reason I was so riled up about it probably is because we're coming off of silver flames.

[Kim]

100% agree, Christina. And I'm with you. Going from Akasoff into this is a rough time for us Rhysand fans in general.

[Anna]

It's not fun.

[Kim]

But you know what?

[Christina]

We do like, we do love, Gwen.

[Anna]

Gwen. Gwyn. Let's get to Gwyn. Okay, so after the meeting. After the meeting with Rhysand, Azriel flies up to the training ring at the House of Wind, planning to burn off some steam, sexual tension and anger. But Gwyn is there practicing, trying to cut the ribbon. He apologizes for interrupting her. And they have just this cute little back and forth and listeners, again, we're gonna walk through this, but Christina's cauldron chat on Gwynreal, her PhD level thesis is amazing. Please go watch it. If you really, really want to get into, like, a lot of details about Gwyn and why we ship her with Azriel, but so I want to note a few things that Asriel's shadows do. And there's a couple more that we'll get to as we keep going. But the first few things that we notice is they don't warn him that Gwyn is training. So he just shows up and he's, like, shocked that she's there. He's the shadow singer. His shadows are always talking to him.

[Christina]

Oh, they're singing to him.

[Anna]

It's almost like they wanted him to be there.

[Kim]

Oh.

[Anna]

So the shadows don't warn him that Gwyn is there practicing his shadows. When they do see Gwyn, peek over his wings, y'. All. Which I'm. I think is adorable.

[Christina]

The cutest visual I've ever seen.

[Anna]

I don't know how we make them feel like sentient beings because it's shadows, but I just need there to be, like, a cute little, like, face and, like, little hands, and they're just, like, looking over.

[Christina]

And it's also important to note that they are sentient beings to Asriel. He talks about how they keep him company, about how they're trying to, like, remind him to sleep, about how, like, they're. They are his, like, buddies.

[Kim]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Christina]

And they are curious and want to know Gwen and want to see and

[Anna]

they want to know more about her.

[Christina]

And she notes that Gwen is curious about them. Like, she thinks they're great. She's also looking at them. She's not scared of them.

[Anna]

No, she's not scared of them. So we get this quote in the beginning when he sees her, which goes back to the quote that Kim said earlier and is a direct comparison with the breath and the way Elain breathes out and the way that his shadows do not embrace her breath, but hide to hide. They hide.

[Christina]

Skitter, skitter, skitter, skitter, skitter.

[Anna]

Yeah, but this is what they do with Gwyn. Her breath curled in front of her mouth, and one of his shadows darted out to dance with it before twirling back to him like it heard some silent music.

[Kim]

Yes, you, Honor. That's all I need to hear. Thank you.

[Anna]

But I love that they, like, again,

[Kim]

the peeking and then the, like, so freaking cute dancing.

[Anna]

So cute.

[Christina]

Also, we know Sarah and we know her writing. And why would she put these two almost identical parallel moments of breath and the interaction with his shadows in the same tiny chapter?

[Anna]

Why she does it two different times, which we'll get to. When Kim gets to the library, she does it again.

[Kim]

Yes.

[Anna]

There's two direct comparison quotes here.

[Christina]

But isn't that interesting though?

[Kim]

It's fascinating.

[Christina]

So interesting.

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Kim]

It's on purpose. 100%.

[Christina]

Thank you. Yes.

[Anna]

Sarah doesn't do anything not boring.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

Okay, so we do get this cute little bamboo, which I absolutely thought was adorable.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

Yeah. She's like, you know, why are you here? And he goes, oh, I forgot something. He reminded her. She's like at 2 in the morning. Pure amusement glittered in her stare. Better than the pain and grief he'd spied a moment before. So he offered her a crooked smile. I can't sleep without my favorite dagger. And then she just responds. A comfort to every growing child.

[Kim]

This is so freaking cute. I love that she gets more and banter with him. And she's so light hearted and like fun with him. And it's not so serious.

[Christina]

He's fun.

[Kim]

He's not.

[Christina]

Like, it's wrong. I'm wrong. My scarred hands. He's like bantering and jabbing and being charming and like he's being. He's lighter. He's like he's having fun and it's

[Anna]

almost like he doesn't. He's not worrying about what his hands look like. He's not worrying about the trauma. He's just enjoying her company, which is what you want. He shouldn't be insecure, right?

[Christina]

Exactly.

[Anna]

You know, he's great because she's his equal.

[Christina]

And it's like, it's so well done getting to see this juxtaposition of his demeanor and how we saw no silliness. Like, I mean, granted, we saw lust and we saw like passion. Do you want to do things with my tongue?

[Anna]

Yeah.

[Christina]

But we didn't see. Oh, I noticed that this happened with her face. And I want to see that crooked smile. And so I did this and I said this like the little sweet lightness.

[Kim]

We didn't see that for sure.

[Anna]

Yeah. Okay. So Azriel ends up helping Gwyn with her sword technique while she's practicing cutting the ribbon. So cute. When they're done, he turns to leave. And here's another shadow moment. It's so. I just love it. Azriel dipped his head in a sketch of a bow. Something restless settling in him. Even his shadows had calmed. As if content to lounge on his shoulders and watch. The way they're obsessed with Gwyn makes me so happy they love her. Happy.

[Kim]

The shadows love her.

[Christina]

I can't.

[Anna]

He's settled. He doesn't feel Restless. He feels at peace.

[Christina]

Yeah. Something restless settled in him. I mean, what? Come on.

[Anna]

Also, I do have to let you guys know that I did look up settle in every other book to see if it's referenced to mating bonds.

[Christina]

Is it?

[Anna]

It's not that that specific word isn't, but when they all mate and like, the mating bond is accepted, music is tied into a lot of it. Like it was a song to a melody or whatever, blah, blah, blah.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

And with all the music references with Gwyn and the way she's like. Do you sing? She's like, yes, I sing. The way that his shadows dance with her, with her breath and all of that. It's just. And the fact that he settles all of the other mating bonds. There is a sense of, like, peace and calmness and. Rightness.

[Kim]

Yeah, rightness, you say? So not wrong. It felt so wrong.

[Anna]

Yeah, okay.

[Kim]

That's all. Just circling back to that for no reason whatsoever.

[Christina]

Anyway, this episode is brought to you by Hatch. You know when you finish a romantasy and you just need the next thing immediately Hatch has made that thing. It's called Ophelia. An original audio drama inspired by Hamlet, where Ophelia finally gets to be the main character. Forbidden magic, a crumbling kingdom, a slow burn love triangle with a prince and his very guarded, very intriguing best friend. The kind of love triangle where you will absolutely pick a side and you will absolutely not be quiet about it.

[Anna]

Book one of the three part series is now available for free wherever you stream, with new chapters dropping every Tuesday. For books two and three, check out Hatch co Ophelia. Okay, also, before we move on, I just have to note this. So a few quotes from Akimath and Akasoff in regards to how SJM writes mated characters reacting to a threat to their mate. So in Acomath, when Rhysand is injured by the poisoned ash arrows before she goes to the Suriel, this is what is. In Feyre's inner monologue. Rhys was hurt. They had hurt him, targeted him. And now it was not hot anger that poured through me, but something ancient and frozen and so vicious that at honed my focus into razor sharpness. Now here's this from Rhysand when he gives his big monologue in chapter 54, he says, and when you were gone, I found those three pics from the beginning of Acotar. I broke into their minds, reshaping their lives, their histories, and dragged them before Amarantha. I made them confess to conspiring to find other rebels that night. And then he goes, I watched her carve them up while they were still alive, protesting their innocence. I enjoyed it because I knew what they had wanted to do to you. Cassian in Akisoff, Nesta hasn't even been hurt yet. The threat alone, the imaginative threat that he has, that Kosche or Bry Lynn could hurt her. He says Cassian tried to think over the bellowing beast in his head that tightened every muscle of his body until only bloody violence would appease it. Lucien has to, like, calm him down.

[Kim]

Mm.

[Christina]

Yeah. There's also a moment where Rhys with

[Anna]

the bird people, right, in the library, the ravens. Thank you. He goes down and he destroys them like there's nothing left. And so I do want to note this is the first time we get Azrael's pov, right? So all of those instances are either their POV or them directly explaining what they did when their mate was threatened. Now, this is from Cassian talking to Nesta. He talks about Gwyn and when Gwyn was rescued from Sangrava. And we know, obviously at the end of the Akisoft, the horror, the absolute disgusting, horrible things that were done to Gwyn. And Asriel's the first one there before more. And what he says is Azrael was the one who made it out there first and he killed any of the Highborne soldiers left. Azrael, who is known for his precision, Cassian, has said that Asriel knows every single way to hurt a person without actually killing them. Every other situation, Azriel brings in a witness to be interviewed. He walks in there, he sees Gwyn bloodied, bruised, and he kills every single soldier. There's not one left alive.

[Kim]

Yep.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

But it's not his pov. We're just getting a little throwaway comment. I'm just saying.

[Kim]

Just saying.

[Christina]

I love that. I love that. Ada. I totally agree. Yeah. What are those thoughts on Azriel and Gwen being mates? Do you think they need to be mates for them to have their storyline?

[Kim]

I don't really want them to be

[Christina]

mates, so I agree. I would enjoy them not being mates. I think, like, every. You get a mate and you get a mate.

[Anna]

Yeah, everyone's getting a mate.

[Christina]

It's a lot.

[Kim]

It feels like a lot.

[Christina]

I worry that the fandom will not take them seriously as end game unless they are mate.

[Kim]

I agree.

[Anna]

I think there would always be this.

[Kim]

Well, but they're not mates.

[Anna]

They're not mates. So there's like. I feel like there would. And to be fair, in the world where you get a mate, you get a Mate.

[Kim]

It's not rare.

[Anna]

So my fear is that there's always this chance Azriel could find a mate, Gwyn could find a mate in the future. And that has happened. They talk about that in the past, that that's happened before.

[Christina]

So that's interesting because, yeah, my first instinct was like, I don't need them to be mates. I like that they are choosing each other. But the fandom has proven that even choosing each other on top of being actual mates isn't enough.

[Kim]

That's not enough.

[Christina]

It is such a hot button item that unless we are like signed, sealed, delivered. This is the context and the canon reason. There's always going to be people arguing.

[Anna]

There's always going to be people arguing. Yeah. So anyways, I mean, the other argument for them being together is the whole thing about Feyre giving birth to an Illyrian baby is the fact that her anatomy cannot birth an Illyrian baby. She can't do it. And we know that Nessa changes her her anatomy to be able to have Cassian's kids in the future if they want to procreate and that if Feyre and Rhysand want to have kids again, that they can do that. She doesn't mention Elain, though. Not that you have to have children.

[Kim]

No.

[Christina]

Right. But I do think that would have been strange. It would have been very weird. Be like, oh, also Elaine P. S. I did you just in case.

[Kim]

Yeah. Well then that goes against consent of people's bodies 100%.

[Anna]

I don't think she should have.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Anna]

I just find it interesting that Gwen has this tossed away comment of my bones are slightly more pliant than an ordinary High Fae. But who cares about that?

[Kim]

I do. I care.

[Anna]

I care.

[Kim]

We care very much.

[Christina]

I could have taken that as just a hint to her River Nymph heritage, except that Sarah had her say. But who cares about that?

[Kim]

Who cares about that?

[Christina]

Who cares about that? Makes it like, okay, this feels important.

[Kim]

Like Sarah's breaking the fourth wall and being like, nobody gonna pick up on that. Right.

[Christina]

But who cares about that? Oh my God.

[Anna]

Okay. All right. So wrapping this part up as Azrael's leaving the training ring, this is what Sarah writes. Azrael entered the warmth of the stairwell and as he descended, he could have sworn a faint, beautiful singing followed him. Could have sworn his shadows sang an answer.

[Christina]

I can't.

[Kim]

Okay.

[Anna]

Christina discussed the importance of singing and music and how it ties beautifully in with Gwen and Azrael's relationship in her Cauldron chat. And she's got a little light Singer theory coming later. But mostly we just want to note again how Asriel's shadows act just so joyful around Gwyn.

[Christina]

Yes.

[Anna]

Okay. Kim, will you just walk us through quickly this last part in the library?

[Kim]

Okay. So it is the next day Azriel had the snowball fight. But he finds Elain's necklace in his pile of gifts. That's still there. It's fine.

[Anna]

It's fine.

[Kim]

And so we can assume that she returned the gift because she was embarrassed because he moved away from her and acted like he didn't want to kiss her.

[Anna]

Right.

[Kim]

So then Azriel is upset and he finds himself in the library. He doesn't really know why or how. He's like, why am I going here? But he just finds himself in the library and he gives Clotho the necklace and tells her to give it to Gwen, but to not say that it was from him.

[Christina]

Yeah. Uh huh.

[Anna]

Messy.

[Christina]

Oh God, this is coming back, y'. All.

[Kim]

This is coming back to bite us 100%. Gwen is going to be wearing the necklace. Elaine is going to see it. There's going to be drama.

[Anna]

Mama, it's so messy. It's such a stupid boy thing.

[Kim]

It is like they'll return it and get Gwen something else that doesn't even like. That doesn't even fit Gwen to me. You know what I mean?

[Anna]

If I was Gwen, I'd be like, oh, oh, okay. Thanks so much.

[Kim]

Like you couldn't even give this to me yourself.

[Christina]

Yeah, it's strange. But again, I do think it's important that we're setting up. This is going to be a love triangle. That's what we're doing.

[Anna]

A love triangle. L Real.

[Christina]

Here's a moment of El Real. Here's the problem with L Real. Here's a moment with Grand Real. Here's gonna be about coming back.

[Kim]

You're so right, Christina. Yeah.

[Christina]

You know, it's all lining up.

[Anna]

She's setting it up.

[Christina]

Yeah.

[Kim]

Okay, so Clotho says, she deserves something as beautiful as this. I thank you for the joy it shall bring to her. And then in Azriel's pov, it says, something sparked in Azrael's chest, but he only nodded his thanks and left. He could picture it, though, as he ascended the stairs back to the house proper, how Gwen's teal eyes might light upon seeing the necklace. For whatever reason, he could see it. But Azriel tucked away the thought, consciously erasing the slight smile it brought to his face, buried the image down deep where it Glowed quietly. A thing of secret, lovely beauty.

[Christina]

Wow. Just pin it all. Pin it all.

[Kim]

Secret lovely beauty.

[Anna]

What? Huh?

[Christina]

Also that it buried the image down deep.

[Kim]

Glowed quiet, quietly.

[Christina]

Glowed quietly. He buried it down deep. That for me is so telling that he's like, I'm gonna just hold this little nugget of this glowing beauty inside me that keeps me warm and happy

[Anna]

and glowing is like every single mating bond. Yep, every single one. Threads of gold that glowed so much glowing. And then with Rhysand and Feyre, she literally glows, which is like the decor, but still she's glowing, right?

[Christina]

Yes. So much glowing. And this whole thing for the light singer theory that's going to be coming soon.

[Kim]

Interesting. Oh, I can't wait.

[Anna]

Yeah. Doesn't he? Christina, can you remind me the secret lovely beauty?

[Christina]

It's the way the necklace is described at the beginning.

[Anna]

But then now he's using it to describe Gwen.

[Christina]

Gwen. Yeah.

[Anna]

Also, he goes to the library at 7pm what time does Gwen sing? 7pm the bell tolls seven times when Nesta goes to listen to her.

[Kim]

Oh, interesting.

[Christina]

He is drawn there at seven. And we know that she sings at seven.

[Kim]

She sings at seven. Oh, that's such a great call out. I did not pick up on that.

[Christina]

Wow.

[Anna]

A very specific number surely is. Okay, guys, well, that is our chat on the Asriel bonus chapter. So much fun.

[Kim]

Give us all of your thoughts.

[Anna]

All of the thoughts. It makes me so excited.

[Kim]

Absolutely.

[Anna]

All right, listeners, well, cheers.

[Kim]

See you next time. Well, friends, that wraps up another episode of Flights of Fantasy podcast. Don't forget to join our book club community on Instagram and TikTok at flights of Fantasy Podcast where you can share your thoughts, theories and favorite moments with us and fellow listeners. We'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed today's episode, please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us spread the magic of Romantasy to even more book lovers. Until next time, keep dreaming, keep reading, and remember, every good story deserves to take flight.