TIME FOR 6-7 …get it
Okay I have been thinking a lot about where the next ACOTAR books might go, and I genuinely cannot stop thinking about Elain and Azriel. There have been so many small hints throughout the series that make their story feel far from finished.
Elain has always been the sister people underestimate. She is quiet, gentle, and spends most of her time tending to gardens. Because of that, everyone around her seems to treat her like she needs protecting. But the more I reread the books, the more it feels like there is much more going on beneath the surface. It almost feels like she is constantly observing everything while everyone assumes she is simply staying out of the conflict.
When Elain was Made by the Cauldron, she gained the power of a seer. That kind of magic is extremely rare, and we still barely understand how it works. Her visions have already helped the Night Court before, but it feels like the story has only scratched the surface of what she might actually be capable of. I have a feeling her powers will become much more important in the future.
Then there is Azriel.
Azriel is one of the most mysterious characters in the entire series. As the spymaster of the Night Court, he spends his life working in shadows and keeping his emotions carefully controlled. Most of the time he is quiet, guarded, and incredibly private. But when he is around Elain, something about him softens. He becomes gentler and more careful in a way we rarely see with anyone else.
Their dynamic feels very symbolic in a way that fits the world of Prythian so well. Elain is often associated with light, warmth, and growing things, while Azriel literally commands shadows. The contrast between them feels intentional, almost like two completely different worlds quietly meeting in the middle.
Of course the complicated part of this whole situation is the mating bond between Elain and Lucien. That bond exists, but Elain has never seemed comfortable with it. If anything, she appears distant from it rather than drawn to it.
That raises a really interesting possibility in the story. What if mating bonds are not always perfect matches. What if they are powerful magical ties, but not necessarily the deepest emotional connection someone can have.
If that turns out to be true, it would mean Elain might eventually choose her own path instead of simply accepting the one that fate placed in front of her.
And if she does make that choice, Azriel could become incredibly important in that journey. Both of them exist slightly outside the center of the Inner Circle in their own ways. Azriel has always lived on the edges, watching and protecting from the shadows. Elain is often overlooked even though she may see more than anyone realizes.
There is something really compelling about the idea that Elain might be one of the only people who truly understands Azriel.
I also have a feeling that if Elain fully steps into her seer abilities, she might begin seeing things about the future that even the Night Court is not prepared for. If something like that happens, Azriel would almost certainly be the one helping her navigate it. Not controlling her or speaking for her, but standing beside her and trusting her strength.
If a future book focuses on Elain, I think we might finally see a completely different side of her. Not just the quiet sister who loves flowers, but someone who has been quietly learning, watching, and understanding far more than anyone expected.
A story centered on Elain and Azriel would probably feel very different from the other romances in the series. It would be quieter, slower, and deeply emotional, with a sense that something powerful has been building for a long time.
After all the hints scattered throughout the books, it is hard not to feel like their story is leading somewhere important. And honestly, I cannot shake the feeling that something big is eventually going to happen between those two.