"How did you get past Connor?" I asked.
Connor wasn't exactly a weakling, despite his lengthy time as a stag. I couldn't be sure, but I suspected he was as strong as any of Liam's enforcers. Perhaps not as strong as Liam or Thomas, but he wasn't a push over either.
Getting past him wouldn't have been easy.
"Your friend is well, just a tad occupied right now," Don assured me. He held out a gloved hand to me, the other still wrapped around the umbrella's handle. "It would be best if you come with me."
That wasn't going to happen.
I tensed, knowing I was stuck between a decidedly dangerous and powerful supernatural, and a door to parts unknown.
Not exactly the type of situation I was expecting for my first errand of the night.
Seeing the refusal on my face, Don sighed, the sound heavy and long. "This is regrettable."
My mouth dried as the shadows he hid under his umbrella rustled. I had a feeling I knew what came next.
Before I could speak or even attempt to talk my way out of things, a sword of pure shining light appeared in his hand and a hard force wrapped around my ankle.
An inelegant squawk left me as I was jerked off my feet. I hit the ground hard, my face crashing into the cobblestone.
I blinked away the bright spots of pain and the blood now dripping from me split lip, scrabbling at the street as the unseen force dragged me backward.
Inch by inch, I slid closer to the doorway, even the increased strength of my vampire side doing little to help me.
I chanced a quick glance behind me, catching a glimpse of a tentacle as thick as my thigh wrapped around my ankle. Beyond it, through the door, an eye the size of my head peered at me.
With an inarticulate sound of denial, I fought harder, digging my claws into the brick. If they got me through the portal, I was dead. So very dead. Nobody would ever know what had happened to me besides Don—whose real name I was pretty sure wasn't Don.
A yowl that ended as a roar shook the night. Connor raced toward me with a furious expression, his fangs bared.
He surged past me, grabbing the tentacle. Ribbons of flesh flew as he tore into it, ripping it in half.
My leg came loose and I scrabbled forward as a pained screech came from the portal. The other half of the tentacle retreated to safety, leaving Connor standing over the ruined remains, blood dripping from his claws where small pieces of tendon still clung.
If I'd ever needed a reminder of how dangerous he was, this event would likely be imprinted on my brain. He'd ripped that thing off me in seconds, like it was no more difficult than tearing into tissue paper.
Gone was the slightly lost and confused man who didn't know how to fit in this world. In this precise moment, he bore a striking resemblance to Liam. The two could have been brothers.
I'd seen that look on Liam's face before. Like an enemy had trespassed for the last time. The sort of look that said they fully embraced their darker half and were looking forward to unleashing it on their enemies.
I scrambled to my feet, backing away from Connor, the portal, and Don. Three entities, each as dangerous in their own way as the last.
Uncertainty flickered in Connor's gaze and I stopped, taking a deep breath as I forced my panic to recede. Connor might be way more terrifying than I'd assumed, but he'd just saved my ass.
He was my ally, and he didn't deserve to have me treat him like a pariah. He wouldn't hurt me—I was pretty sure.
Instead of fleeing as instinct demanded, I changed directions, edging toward Connor until I faced the portal and making it clear I'd watch his back.
His breathing steadied, the uncertainty fading as he fixed Don with his full attention.
Don watched the two of us carefully. He flicked his wrist and the sword vanished as quickly as it had appeared. "This is an unexpected development, and here I'd hoped for a calm conversation."
"I don't know where you're from but dragging people through portals doesn't exactly put them at ease," I said.
"No, I guess it doesn't."
Another tentacle shot out of the portal, arrowing straight for me. I dodged left and it followed. My eyes widened as I threw myself onto the ground to escape, rolling out of the way as it overshot.
Next to me, Connor lunged at Don, the two a blur as they traded blows.
It was all I had time to see as the tentacle started for me again.
I was on my feet, racing away in the next moment. I avoided the first grab and bumped up against a brick wall. Left with nowhere to go and the tentacle questing along the ground for me, I leapt straight up, catching hold of one of those fancy wrought iron supports that had a sign hanging from it. A corbel, I think they were called.
I dangled there, getting the lay of the battle. For now, I was safe. At least until the tentacle learned I was no longer on the ground. For the moment, I braced my feet against the wall and took the opportunity to catch my breath and get my bearings.
Across the street Connor and Don looked evenly matched. They'd be there a while, which meant I was on my own with the tentacle monster.
I recognized where we were. It wasn't far from my car—only a few streets if I remembered correctly.
The tentacle slammed into the brick a few feet below me. The wall shivered as the tentacle slowly extricated itself from the hole it had created.
It shook itself, like a dog shedding water.
Uh oh. I saw where this was going.
It slammed itself into the wall again.
In one smooth movement, I used my feet to push off the wall, flipping over the tentacle and landing on my feet.
I didn't hesitate, racing down the street away from the portal and its tentacle, calling over my shoulder. "Running would be good right about now, Connor."
If we couldn't fight the tentacle monster, then we just needed to get far enough from it so that it was no longer a problem.
I passed Don, surprised when he did no more than tip his umbrella at me and call, "Ms. Travers, I regret the way the night turned out. I'll pursue this matter again at a different time."
I had no time to answer, too intent on fleeing to spare a breath for the response that merited.
Heavy footfalls pounded over the cobblestones after me. One glance assured me that it was Connor and not something less friendly.
Minutes later, I spotted the bright umber and sleek lines of my Jaguar F-Type and headed for it.
The car clicked open as soon as I touched the handle courtesy of the keyless entry Liam had had installed. I yanked open the door and slid inside, Connor doing the same on the passenger side.
I stomped down on the brake and hit the ignition.
"Is this wise?" Connor asked calmly. "You realize our enemy could likely pick this car up very easily."
The car purred to life and I punched the drive button. We jolted forward as I bared my teeth in a victorious smile. "Maybe, but they'll have to catch us first."
His eyebrows twitched as if to concede my point.
The car carried us down the street. I took the first right, heading straight for the freeway and theoretical safety as I kept one eye on our surroundings to make sure I didn't accidentally drive us through any portals.
"What were those things?" I asked.
Connor lifted a shoulder, his expression smooth and unruffled. "Fae of some kind."
I shot him a glance when no further answer was forthcoming. "Anything useful you'd like to share?"