modernbookfae:

Even though I love every Cassian and Nesta encounter I am only including moments in this post that give off signs of a mating bond being present.

A Court of Mist and Fury

Feyre painting flames of fire on Nesta’s drawer. And Cassian is compared to fire multiple times in the series. “Fire - he reminded her of fire made of flesh”

When Cassian offers to defend Nesta’s home and her people from Hybern and wipes away the tears that fall from her eyes. (Also note that Mor watched this in awe and perhaps she is able to sense something remarkable happening in that moment. A flicker of a mating bond perhaps.)

Feyre’s talk with Cassian on the bridge hints that she knows there is something between Cassian and Nesta. (And she wants the Illyrian to know that Nesta will always remember his promise which seems to impact him when he hears Feyre say that.)

Cassian, in his bloody and unconscious state, tried to save Nesta as she was hauled into the Cauldron. Each time she screamed his body stirred and attempted to answer her pleas.

“At Nesta’s shouts, her raging, his eyes fluttered open, glazed and unseeing, an answer to some call in his blood, a promise he’d made to her.”

Wings and Embers

Nesta’s scent has a way of making Cassian almost lose control. Poor bat has troubling not just giving in and pressing his face in the crook of her neck!

“A blade given form - that’s what she was.” and “Fire - he reminded her of fire made of flesh” These two things  go hand in hand when forging a weapon…or in this case a bond being forged. Either way the parallels of these comparisons are too important to exclude. 

Cassian rage when he finds out Nesta was harmed by Tomas is extremely similar to how territorial males react when their mates are threatened. *Note that in TOG Aelin goes into a “killing calm” when Rowan was hurt and now Cassian is experiencing a “murderous calm”.

Nesta states that Cassian is the only one who could see through her shields. No one else. JUST CASSIAN.

“Cassian breathed in the smell of her into his lungs, stirring his cock as it latched onto some intrinsic part of him and sank its talons deep.” Intrinsic part = mating instincts. That is my theory at least.

When Nesta blames “some faerie magic” for a reason why she let Cassian nuzzle and lick. NO GIRL THAT’S A MATING BOND!

A Court of Wings and Ruin

“You come between a male and his mate, Nesta Archeron, and you’re going to learn about the consequences the hard way.” I love how Cassian is the one bringing this topic up. And hopefully hinting that we will see this in action in the later books between them!

When Mor, Azriel and the other Inner Circle members can see the tension between Cassian and Nesta. AND AZRIEL SHOOTING A WARNING STARE AT MOR TO REMIND HER TO KEEP QUIET. They have clearly talked about connection Cassian has with Nesta.

When Feyre asks Cassian why he bothers with Nesta his response is literally: “Because I can’t stay away.”

The whole Bone Carver scene is a gold mine of information.

Cassian silently communicating to Nesta to get behind him when Amren is becoming angry.

Cassian experiences that “rage” when he finds out Nesta is in danger at the library with the Ravens. 

Nesta and Cassian’s interaction right before they go to the Court of Nightmares. How Cassian is trying to read her face and that they both look at each other with a “raging intensity, that blend of contempt and understanding and fire”.

Cassian is able to sense something wrong with Nesta after the High Lords’ meeting.

Feyre and Rhysand talk about Cassian and Nesta being bonded. (And how they both seem to think that the two are mates.)

Nesta being able to sense that Cassian is injured, even when Rhysand couldn’t.

Nesta roaring for Cassian on the battlefield. How could she have known that he was in danger if something didn’t warn her?

Cassian being able to hear Nesta over his warrior mode and the sounds of battle. He didn’t even think twice about flying back to her.

Nesta being unable to leave Cassian behind on the battlefield. “I can’t,” she breathed, voice breaking. “I can’t.”