The Guardians: An Urban Fantasy Romance by Elise Marion Read Free Book Online Page B

laid with a cougar. Come to think of it, I also dated a stripper once, but that’s another story.”
    “One I’ve heard a hundred times,” Jack reminded him.
    The music changed and a booming voice announced over the speaker system the names of the four new dancers taking the stage. Candy, Toya, Tigris, and Red.
    “Heads up.” He nodded toward the stage.
    The four girls strutted out one at a time as the first notes of ‘Lick’ by Joi filled the club. Jack sipped on his drink, his eyebrows shooting up as the fourth girl took her place at one of the center-stage poles. She and a brunette that had to be Tigris—due to her black and orange striped costume—became the center of attention as the men closer to the stage clamored for their notice, bills floating down to the stage floor.
    Even from this distance, he could make out her curvy yet muscled build. Her arms and legs appeared sinewy, straining with strength as she used her limbs to execute some pretty impressive pole tricks. Her hair was a vibrant shade of red that bordered on maroon. It shimmered like fire beneath the stage lights, fanning out around her face as she danced. Her makeup was heavy, so Jack couldn’t decipher any features, her eyes ringed with smoky eye shadow and her lips shimmering a glossy pink.
    “Not bad for a demon,” Micah grunted, before downing his shot. He slammed the glass back down onto the bar, then reached for his beer.
    Jack lowered his eyes and tried to focus his thoughts elsewhere. The typical guy response made it hard to look at Addison Monroe as just a part of their mission. He couldn’t talk to her about God and fighting demons if all he could think about was what she looked like naked.
    It was damn hard, but he managed to fix his vision on one of the many flat screens behind the bar playing one of several football games. By the time the song ended, his drink was gone and he’d grown restless from waiting.
    “She’s gone backstage,” Micah told him, setting his empty beer bottle beside Jack’s glass. “These places always have back entrances for employees. Gal gotta leave sometime.”
    Jack nodded and turned away from the bar. “We’ll wait for her outside.”

Chapter 6: The Chosen One
     
    Addison peered out through the crack in the back door of the club, holding her breath. After her long talk with Elle the night before, she hadn’t slept a wink. As a result, she’d been unable to concentrate on anything all day. She’d burned her grits that morning, almost stepped into oncoming traffic, and had put on several articles of clothing inside out before having to try again. All because she couldn’t stop thinking about her parents— her father, in particular; whoever he happened to be. She still had so many questions unanswered. Like, who was her father? Did her mother know what he was? It would explain why she’d kept so much from Addison. But then, if she had some important destiny like Elle had said, why wouldn’t her mother have told her the truth? Maybe she had a reason for that. Maybe she’d only wanted to protect Addison.
    It was all enough to give her a headache, and she just wanted a night of reprieve from it.
    You’ll be visited by someone else soon, Elle had told her last night. They’ll tell you everything you need to know about your destiny.
    Apparently, she’d been chosen for some sacred duty, though why any god would want her, she couldn’t figure out. She was a white trash stripper with a demon for a father. What could God think she had to offer?
    Whatever the case, she didn’t think she was ready to hear it. She’d been watching her back all day, wondering if every person who looked at her for more than a second had come for her like Elle had predicted. Of course, this made stripping in front of a crowded room full of men a nerve-wracking experience.
    Finding the alley clear, Addison opened the door wider and slipped out, her gaze sweeping the area for any sign of movement.
    “Lookin’ for