ChaPter 2 - Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr

Carnival of souls
been accepted by his colleagues. It wouldn’t surprise anyone
but Adam if they “forgot” or misled Selah.
“I’m going to be working at the Stoneleigh-Ross main
office.” Adam’s expression was perfectly unreadable—which
meant he was either hiding something or afraid.
Or both.
Mallory squared her shoulders and stared at him as he
walked away. She never succeeded at questioning her father,
but the thought of Kaleb made her feel strong. She knew she
couldn’t really date him, and she shouldn’t get too close to a
regular human. For his safety, she needed to keep a distance,
but the possibility of continuing even the small conversations
they now shared was a great temptation.
“I want to know why we have to go,” she told her father.
Her usually absent temper flared, and her voice rose. “I’m not
a child anymore. I deserve to know.”
Her father sat down on the sofa and waited as she reloaded
the clips. After a couple of minutes, he said, “I love you more
than I thought it possible to love anyone or anything. If I could
put you away somewhere safe and take care of the threats on
my own, I would.”
“I don’t want to be ‘put away.’” Mallory laid the clip on
the table. The soft clatter was in direct contrast to the turmoil
she was trying to repress. She crossed the small distance to the
living room, but didn’t sit. “I want to know what’s going on. I
want to know why we have to move so suddenly. Again. I want
to know why they’re after you in the first place.”
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