I went straight to the dean's office. Dinner was most likely already over, and in order not to be late, I had to practically run.

I stumbled into the waiting room disheveled and with a wildly pounding heart. The secretary, with whom we had a mutual dislike at first sight, writhed a displeased face at the sight of me. Probably, she hoped that I would be late or not come, and I would be immediately expelled.

“Lord Bane and Lord Culver are waiting for you,” she emphasized the last words, as if waiting for the dark ones was akin to severe torture, and I am the most terrible person in...