The Uninvited (The Julianna Rae Chronicles Book 1) by Aral Bereux Read Free Book Online

thought and every whim. She danced against the pole while he ambled away, hunched in his black shirt with his eyes cast low. His sleeves were rolled to the elbows, displaying the scattering of black symbols on his arms, warning anyone who’d dare cross a watcher with such ancient markings to think twice. With his back turned, she felt his charisma melt away.
    He had allured her.
    A hypnotist, too, she thought.
    The crowds watched him sit two rows from her center. A beer that he didn’t order was placed on his table. The younger watchers nodded in his direction, manically whispering back and forth like crazed fans. She wasn’t the only star feature of the night and from the pole between her legs, she witnessed the stir he created among his own kind.
    He ignored it to watch her.
    His dark eyes brooded, soaking in her legs wrapping the pole as she caressed it, and she was sure to keep his eyes on hers the entire time. It took little effort; she had his undivided attention. When she did her signature move and the crowds went wild, he sat in his seat with his beer in his hand and just smiled.
    The hazy atmosphere that hung made his sign of the Rebellion difficult to distinguish. His fist moved subtly across his chest before flipping his shirt pocket open for his cigarettes and she saw the nod he gave her. He smiled again, slipped out a cigarette, and added to the haze above his head.
    The music faded for more introductions; the table girls stepped into the men’s section for their private seductions, away from the stage and away from the gambling. Julianna took the two steps down in her bare feet, searching for splinters on the roughly sanded wood, not seeing the walker with his hand rising for a playful slap to the backs of her thighs.
    A ruddy handprint stretched across her olive complexion, fingerprints forming across one leg with the palm print outstretched on the other. The offender pushed his chair away to tower over her between the cramped tables.
    ‘You’re in my way,’ he folded his arms, broadening his strong shoulders.  His deep voice broke easily across the crowds.
    Caden leaned into his chair, watching with the masses. Their whispers of concern reached her.
    Surely she wouldn’t…she’s crazy, he’ll kill her.
    ‘You can’t go touching us like that. You need to leave.’
    ‘So make me move,’ he stretched his arms above his head, exposing his loyalty to the Militia. A thick black circle encompassed the Militia triangle and sun in his wrist tattoo. He raised it higher for everyone to see.
    ‘Your mother know you have that?’
    ‘Okay, darlin’. Have it your way.’ He held his hands in surrender and stepped away. ‘The Commander likes his girls feisty. He might have to hear about you.’
    The security clamped their hands on his large shoulders to escort him to the exit.
    ‘Be sure to give him my regards,’ she snapped.
    The club returned to its normal whims. Incessant chatter, white noise, an insulting bass and drum beat. She fixated on Caden, enjoying his cigarette, sucking the escaping smoke into his mouth before exhaling.
    ‘Thanks for having my back there, C Mads.’ She sat across from his lingering gaze. The bottle rested to his parted lips and he winked again while drinking, keeping his thoughts to himself.
    ‘No, seriously, thanks. Saved your sorry ass and twelve months later, all I get’s a freakin’ wink,’ she snapped.
    His lips parted further into a grin. ‘You just highlighted yourself to the Militia. You want me to congratulate you on your stupidity?’
    ‘Being Militia gave him the right?’ she said. She looked over to the bar. ‘Otis!’ she shouted. ‘ Please can I get a drink over here?’
    The bartender nodded under his Einstein hairstyle, swept back into a hair tie. Untamed strands wisped around his full cheeks, white in most parts, but the tips were frosted black; she likened him to a skunk having a bad hair day. He was a preternatural, although what sort she didn’t