14 November

Back in July, I introduced you to Teaser, a Goblin with a penchant for all things glittery and gold, perhaps more so than the average Goblin. Teaser’s lived in our world for a long time. He won’t say how long. (A bit sensitive about his age.)

He first appeared at the end of Midnight Bites. In Midnight Wildes, he’s a primary player.

Picture of both Teasers.

Today, I’m sharing a scene with him I just cut from Midnight Wildes. He still goes to the Wildes, and he’s still there to protect the twins.

Teaser arrives in the Wildes:

Teaser hit the ground with both feet, yelling, “Ari! Arika!” He lifted his hand to his mouth to yell again, but stopped. Long green fingers extended from thin green hands. His shoulders slumped. “Home, again.”

“Teaser!” Ari’s voice flew on the wind.

“Close.”

“Teaser!” Arika’s voice tinkled on the snowflakes.

“Not close.”

Teaser lifted his long, green nose into the air, sniffing.

“Arika! Teaser!” Ari’s voice, louder now, closer.

“Ari!” Arika’s voice faded.

Teaser pounded his feet, forcing the snow out from between his green toes. A boulder answered with a thump. Teaser jumped on top of it. Ahead of him, a wall of snow. Behind him, snow filled every voice and shadow. He sniffed again. He filled his lungs with snow and air. “Ari! I’m coming. Stay where you are.”

The whiff of Arie on the wind hinted at a fear Ari’s core along with determination and cold.

“Teaser! Where are you?”

Teaser tilted his head, not resisting the smile breaking onto his face. “There’s strength in that voice. Afraid, but strong, searching.”

“I’m coming, Ari.” Teaser jumped off the boulder at a run. Ari’s scent grew stronger on the wind, but so now was the scent of humans. He had to find Ari before the humans did.

Here’s Teaser in his favorite suit while in Vegas. He’s very proud of his ‘59 Cadillac.

“Get back inside, you old goat,” a woman’s voice called, her voice course with age and worry.

“Thought I heard-,” started the reply.

“Tell me about it when you get inside. I’m freezing my tits off in this wind.”

Teaser stopped. He twisted his ears, listening to all they could hear. “Not looking for the twins. Good.” He allowed himself only a moment to breathe before continuing his hunt.

Ari’s scent filled his brain. Closer, but with each step closer, Teaser could smell the cold and fear entering his young charge. He sped up, running as fast as he could in the howling wind and snow, over drifts taller than himself until he leaped over a drift and rolled down the embankment to a creek, flowing swift with ice damns forming in its eddies.

Two hands grabbed his shoulders, stopping him from rolling into the water. He twisted his neck smiling to see Ari’s face. At first it smiled back, and then it backed away, eyes wide.

Ari dropped Teaser and fell backwards. “What are you?”

Teaser raised his arms. “It’s alright, Ari-”

Ari turned to run up the embankment.

Teaser reached up, grabbing the back of Ari’s shirt and pulling him down. “It’s me, Teaser. Come on, Ari. We don’t have time for this.”

Ari stopped struggling against the hands holding him. “Teaser?” he asked. “What – I mean. How?”

Teaser helped Ari stand. “Much for you to learn, and much for you to do. But let us domicile in warmth before we freeze to death.” Teaser turned, pulling Arie behind him.

Ari grabbed Teaser’s shoulder. “Wait! Where’s Arika? I can’t leave her out here.”

Teaser lifted his long nose into the air and sniffed. Near, but not close, wolves. “She’s safe for now. We must go.”

“Teaser?”

Teaser turned and snarled at Arie, his long, white teeth gleaming in the snow. “When you are safe. Come!”

Arie nodded and followed, his head downcast, but whether from cold or fear, Teaser wasn’t sure. He was sure that his bones clinked in the cold even as his teeth stopped chattering. It was move or die for both. The wolves would find Arika, and she would be safe. If the wolves found Ari, he would be dead.

Peace,

L.K. Latham

P.S. Almost forgot to include the picture of Teaser when he’s in the Wildes.