Also, if the bond does not matter then why are some so adamant that Az is Elain's true mate? It's the constant contradictions.... is it because deep down they know SJM will always go with mates as endgame and they are desperate for a bond between the two. Or the theories that Lucien is not her real mate, then that defeats the point of a rejection because Lucien has to be her true mate to carry out the plot. Is it Tuesday, is that why today it's all about choice, but come Wednesday, we will go back to Az being her true mate posts. Please, make up your mind.

Beloveds, Elain isn't real. She has no story or narrative without SJM, that means she has no choice either. In SJMs own words, Elain and Lucien would heal together. It's SJM choice. Get a grip with reality, tropes and genre conventions aren't hard to grasp. SJM isn't having her character settle for than anything as special as the bond by the end. And with Gwyns intro to Azriels story and Sarah retconning his history to hers, Elucien is sealed. Az is getting his own mate. Elain will fall in love with Lucien. It's predicatable, but Sarah isn't writing Shakespeare lol, if you don't like it. Read a series by an author who chooses other tropes and conventions. CC was proof she has no intention on abandoning the trope considering she's setting up MORE bonds for cc4. Yall can criticize her for repeat themes but she made millions, why would she care? She didn't care when Rowan's and Rhys haters demanded she keep with Chaol and Tamlin endgame. Mates always trump any crush and puppy love.

Or go read another series by another author who doesn't do fated mates. If you truly read the books, nothing compares to a mate, not even marriage. Sarah already established the importantance of the bond which can't be broken or she'd start opening plot holes for other mates. Plenty of authors repeat their tropes, why is this such an issue for SJM? She love soul mates because she believes in soul mates, she believes her husband is hers so it's not a suprise she incorporates the idea of a fated love in her books. If you're not a fan of the trope, read something else.