Page 61 of Atone

“I’m Mila,” I offer when she doesn’t ask.

Ursa hums, scanning me from head to toe. Her gaze skips to Alex, who has tucked his hands into his pockets now, closing himself off even more. He clearly has no interest in communicating with her, which once again makes me wonder if I’m the first person he’s said anything to since leaving the psychiatric ward.

“Mila…” Ursa repeats my name, drawing it out and narrowing her eyes. “You’re Patience’s friend?”

Her question steams with irritation when I shift closer to Alex.

“Friend and roommate.” I slide my weight from one foot to the other.

This is getting more uncomfortable by the second, and even if I’m usually good at charming people, I get the impression it will take a lot more to impress Ursa Lancaster.

“We share a dorm room.”

“With the Donovans’ daughter?”

“Teal.” I nod. “And also, Violet.”

Ursa seems to like that even less, but I have no idea why.

“Well, we better get going.” I take a step back, needing to put any amount of distance between myself and this awkward conversation. “But it was nice to meet you, Mrs. Lancaster.”

Ursa doesn’t return the pleasantries, glancing back at her son instead. “We’re hosting a dinner on Sunday, Alex. It would be lovely if you could make it.”

Alex doesn’t so much as nod, and she doesn’t pause long enough for him to really answer anyway.

Unlike Patience, who would always speak to her brother like she was including him in the conversation, his mother talks at him.

“Do come by again.” Her comment is to her son, and she doesn’t spare me another glance as she turns and disappears back into the house with the bag of books.

What the hell was that?

When the front door closes, I finally turn to make my way back to the car with Alex walking beside me.

“Charming family you’ve got there.” Sarcasm seeps through my tone.

It might be rude, but it’s not the first inappropriate thing I’ve said to Alex. And like all the other times, my harsh comment is met with mild amusement.

At least now I know why Patience avoids her parents like the plague. I’d be fine never seeing Ursa again, and I’ve still yet to meet their father.

19

RUMORS

ALEX

My ears humwith white noise as Mila drives us back into the heart of Bristal. Color returns with every mile between me and my parents’ house.

When Declan ousted the founding families and overturned the Sigma Sin Council, the Pierce and Donovan names were burned to the ground. The Christiansen and Lancaster families were the only ones to survive the fallout. Not that my family or Kole’s is any more innocent. They were just better at burying their secrets from Sigma Sin.

But no matter how many times my mother recites the rosary, nothing will wash the sin from any of our hands.

Patience crucifies me for the fact that I returned to Sigma House after getting out of Montgomery, but what did she expect? That I’d return to that haunted hellscape?

I respect my father for his help in keeping my demons on a leash the best he could. But he’s only capable of it because he understands what it means to be a monster himself. Lancasters are damned from the second we’re born—my sister being the only exception. It’s why I’ve done my best to protect her all these years.

Send my soul to hell if it means one of us has a chance.

“So, about last night…” Mila pulls my attention back to her, and it snaps the world into focus.