Page 88 of Marrying My Professor

"What do you want?" Julian asks, leaning forward with interest.

"My wife remains untouchable. No assignments. No obligations beyond social appearances. No one questions her, investigates her, or uses her as leverage against me. She's off-limits. Completely."

The request hangs in the air.

"Done," Nathaniel says after a long moment. "Your wife will be afforded the same protections given to all Veritas spouses. No additional scrutiny. No special attention. She's simply Mrs. Draven, wife of a faction leader."

It's not enough. It'll never be enough. But it's something.

"Then I accept the position," I say, the words tasting like defeat.

"Excellent." Nathaniel stands, and the other faction leaders follow suit. "Welcome to leadership, Alexander. I trust you'll find it... enlightening."

The house is dark when I get home, just one lamp burning in the living room where Elara sits curled on the couch, reading. She looks up when I enter, and I can see the question in her eyes before she asks it.

"How bad?"

I cross to the liquor cabinet, pouring two fingers of scotch and downing it in one swallow. Then I pour another before turning to face her.

"They made me interim leader of the Sovereign Bastards."

Her book drops to the floor. "What?"

"Until they find a suitable replacement. Which could take—" I laugh bitterly. "—indefinitely."

She's on her feet immediately, crossing to me with quick steps. "They can't do that. You're not even a Bastard. You're⁠—"

"Bound indefinitely to serve at their pleasure." I set down the glass before I'm tempted to throw it. "Which apparently includes leading a faction I have no affiliation with, overseeing operations I want nothing to do with, and remaining at Belgrave University for the foreseeable future."

"So we can't leave." Her voice is flat, understanding settling in. "Your plan to escape once your sentence was up⁠—"

"Is dead. Just like James." I run a hand through my hair, exhaustion hitting all at once. "They know, Elara. Maybe they can't prove it, but they know what happened in that maze. And this is how they're punishing us. By binding me even more tightly to the organization. By ensuring I can never leave."

She's quiet for a long moment, and when I finally look at her, there are tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry," she whispers. "God, Alexander, I'm so sorry. You gave up everything for me and now⁠—"

"Stop." I cross to her, pulling her into my arms, feeling her shake against my chest. "Don't apologize. Don't you dare apologize."

"But if I hadn't killed him⁠—"

"Then he'd still be alive. Still protected. Still holding leverage over Nathaniel. Still getting away with murdering your brother." I tilt her face up, needing her to see the truth in my eyes. "You did what needed to be done. What the Veritas was too compromised to do themselves. And yes, there are consequences. But Elara⁠—"

I pause, making sure she's really hearing me.

"—it was worth it."

"How can you say that?" Her voice breaks. "You're trapped. Forever. Because of me."

"I was already trapped. I've been trapped since I was seventeen." I wipe the tears from her cheeks with my thumbs, gentle despite the turmoil churning inside me. "The only difference is now I'm trapped with you. And Pet, that makes all the difference."

"Alexander—"

"I love you." The words come easily now, natural as breathing. "I love you more than I've ever loved anything or anyone. More than freedom. More than the future I thought I wanted. You are my future. And if being bound to the Veritas means I get to keep you safe, keep you close, keep waking up next to you every morning—then fine. I'll lead their faction. I'll play their games. I'll do whatever they ask."

"That's not fair to you."

"Nothing about our situation is fair." I press my forehead to hers, breathing in her scent—vanilla and something uniquely her. "But it's ours. This fucked up, complicated, violent life we've built together. And I wouldn't trade it for anything."