This is how the book would have looked if Elain had witnessed what Azriel really thought and said. When "romantically coded" moments were then followed up by where he actually was at that point in the series.
Elain said to Azriel, “Hello.”
Az said nothing. No, he just moved toward her. Mor tensed beside me. But Azriel only took Elain’s heavy dish of potatoes from her hands, his voice soft as night as he said, “Sit. I’ll take care of it.”
Elain’s hands remained in midair, as if the ghost of the dish remained between them. With a blink, she lowered them, and noticed her apron. “I—I’ll be right back,” she murmured,
Then Az gave Mor a smile of thanks, a blush creeping over his cheeks, his hazel eyes fixed on her. I looked away at the heat, the yearning that filled them.
And:
But Elain lifted her chin. “No matter what, don’t kill him. Please.”
“If Graysen is killed, then good riddance.
And:
Elain spoke from the doorway, having appeared so silently that they all twisted toward her, “Using me.”
Azriel stiffened, an outright sign of temper from him as he said quietly, “There is an innate darkness to the Dread Trove that [you] should not be exposed to.”
Elain remained in the doorway, her face pale but her expression harder than __ had ever seen it. “You do not decide what I can and cannot do,
And....
"Yes, Elain breathed."
"Elain, I'm about to kiss you but this is wrong - so wrong. But I can have this. This one moment, and maybe a taste, and that will be it. I only think about this in the dead of night when even my shadows go to sleep".
........ "Actually, this is a mistake.". And Rhys just called me so I'm going to talk to him, I think he's pissed I was about to hook up with you.
"I'm sorry"
"Don't apologize, never apologize. It's me who.....". "I just thought because my brothers are with your sisters we should be Mates but I'm not ready to talk about Mor who I've been love with forever and though Lucien will never be good enough for you, I've never planned anything for us beyond the fantasies I pleasure myself to".
"Oh by the way, are you planning on giving me that gift back? I'm going to give it to this other girl instead"
Sure an anti could do the same with Elucien and Gwynriel but the difference is we all acknowledge that there is not love that currently exists between those couples, just hints of what could be. But E/riels DO claim Elain and Az are in love and have been for many books.
How about that for peak level of romance?! 🤔 😂.
