One of them, a short-haired blonde, eyed me as I approached them. I stopped, breathing heavily. “I need to see the Dean.”

“Do you have an appointment?” she asked, blue eyes icy and voice just as chilled.

I shook my head. “I don’t even know how to make an appointment with him, but I need to see him.”

“I’m sorry,” she replied, her voice level. “But he’s busy.”

Of course he was. “Well, then I’ll just sit out here until he’s not busy.”

The male Guard’s dark brows knitted. “That won’t be necessary. You can leave your name and we will—”

“I’m not leaving my name, or leaving in general.” With each word I spoke, my voice got louder and that current of wind hit the hall, lifting the hairs around the blonde Guard’s face. “So, I’m just going to plop my ass down here, right against the wall and I don’t care if you have a problem with that—”

The heavy doors behind the two white-garbed guards suddenly swung open, and the Dean of the Covenant appeared, standing in the middle. He was a tall man, the definition of sophistication. Dark brown hair groomed back from a handsome face. I could never peg down his age. He only had a few lines at the corners of his eyes and faintly graying hair at the temples.

Right now, his expression was carefully blank. “You may come in, Josie.”

As I walked forward, I shot the blonde Guard a look that I would probably feel bad about later, because she was just doing her job. Marcus stepped aside, and the moment I entered the large room, my already-racing heart jumped into my throat.

Seth was sitting in the chair in front of the large desk, his back to the door. His shoulders were stiff and as straight as a board, and he didn’t turn around—didn’t look in my direction even though he knew I was there. The knots in my stomach tightened painfully.

“I don’t think you’re looking for me,” Marcus said, closing the door behind him. He walked past me and took a seat behind the desk.

I shook my head. “I want—”

“Don’t,” Seth said.

Blinking, I stared at the back of his golden head. “Excuse me?”

“I know why you’re here,” he added, his voice exceptionally level. Scarily so. It was as if he could care less about what he was saying. “It’s about training, and there’s nothing to be discussed. It’s done and decided.”

My mouth moved, but there were no words as heat crept into my cheeks. Marcus—the freaking dean of the University—was watching us, watching me, and possibly searching Seth down to this room had not been a good idea. “I . . . I don’t understand what’s going on.”