Page 19 of Secrets and Ruin

“Carey, dinner!” I called out. “They’re home!”

Carey was there quickly, and we set the table while Heath went to change out of his suit and Landon unpacked dinner. By the time Heath was back, we had everything ready.

“So, what does Teagan have going on? He’s back Sunday, right?” I asked, remembering how Carey had mentioned it to me. “Is he doing all right with everyone?”

“It’s going well. He’s agreed to head a team for my company, so…” Heath trailed off, chuckling. “You don’t care about this, do you?”

“Not the business stuff, no, but knowing he’s okay is something I wanted to hear.” With a smile, I waved for him to continue, then started eating.

“He’s not working all weekend, right, Dad? You wouldn’t make Teagan do that,” Carey said before he could tell us more.

“No, not at all. He has a couple of meetings tomorrow, but both of those are for his own clients. He’s finished with what I needed. He’s going to visit the Market after, then take another night in the city to relax,” Heath explained. “Teagan hasn’t gone in some time, and he wanted to look around.”

“That’s the… pocket dimension or whatever, right?” Carey’s curiosity was clear. It surprised me that she had to ask. She was so knowledgeable about a lot of supernatural places and things I figured she would know more about it than I did. I tried my best not to go at all and didn’t care to make it a regular thing. Too many supernaturals from all over the world, too far from home, and a bit complicated to get access to since it required a specific type of currency to get into the Market. I always used Heath’s stash when he wanted to take me.

“The Market is a pocket dimension with doors all over the world. It’s the biggest supernatural marketplace in the world. It originally was a fae black market and many of the fae still consider it as such. However, for other supernaturals, it’s more of a….” Heath paused, clearly trying to find the best world for it.

“It’s like a magic mall,” Landon said before shoving a piece of steak into his mouth.

We waited for him to chew and swallow, Carey clearly wanting to hear more. Heath seemed to be willing to let Landon give the explanations. Landon looked around and, realizing what he had done, he sighed as he put his silverware down.

“It has different places to eat or relax, foods from all over the world tucked between shops started by hundreds of different supernaturals. The buildings look like they were plucked from different places during different time periods, all of them different shapes and sizes. There are a few castles, temples, a skyscraper, and more. Inside those buildings or attached to them are doors. Most of them will lead to random broom closets if you aren’t supposed to be using them. You can only exit the Market from the place where you were allowed in. Only the people in charge are rumored to use it for traveling around the world, leaving through whatever door they want. Each door has someone working at it. Dirk and I have gone for stuff before. We’ve also gone just to hang out… before he was a werewolf, and we had to keep that secret. Couldn’t risk running into someone who recognized him. I would take you, but I don’t think Pa would appreciate it.”

“I wouldn’t,” Heath confirmed. “It’s only for my pack business unless someone has their own coins to get in. Teagan has his own supply. I gave him more to pay for the others, so he didn’t burn through them.”

“How does he get them?” I asked, frowning.

“He’s an expert in supernatural law. He has a small bag of them from before he joined the Dallas pack, apparently for helping others with legal troubles.” Heath shrugged. “But knowing he worked for those, I didn’t want him to waste them on the others.”

“Maybe we can do a family trip,” I said, giving Heath a look. He stared me down. I knew why taking Carey was off the table, but I disagreed a little. He didn’t want her to become more entrenched in the supernatural world. I figured it was an experience most humans didn’t know existed, but she could go safely with us. A few streets of living history with a fake sky in a contained world that very rarely had trouble. “It’s a relatively safe place, Heath.”

“She’s right, Pa. The one of the few time in my life I’ve heard of trouble in the Market was with a Tribunal Executioner there, and it was resolved without anyone else being injured even though it almost leveled the block. The other was King Brion during the turmoil around him coming back and it was minimal damage.”

Heath narrowed his eyes at Landon.

“Leveled the block…” he repeated back to his son.

“One incident in the countless years that place has existed is a pretty good track record,” Landon countered.

“I’ll think about it. You’re just looking for something to do while Dirk is gone.”

“Of course, and spending time with my father and sister is a good thing to pass the time,” Landon said. “I like spending time with my family.”

“Then say that a little less sarcastically,” I called out, chuckling as he gave me a playful warning growl not to call him out like that.

“Okay, Stepmother,” he said, teeth on display.

“Yeah, that’s weird,” I said quickly as Carey laughed. It was weird. Landon was about a hundred and twenty years older than me. “I’m not your stepmother yet, and you definitely don’t need to call me by that title… or any title. Jacky is fine.”

With Landon chuckling evilly, we went back to eating. Once plates were cleaned off, Carey grabbed them to clear the table before anyone said they wanted to leave.

“Is there something you want, or is this to butter me up to take you to the Market?” Heath asked, giving his daughter a knowing expression.

“Neither,” she declared, lifting her chin defiantly. “I made dessert and want to serve it. Don’t leave.”

“Dessert?” Heath mouthed at me when she disappeared.

“She wanted to bake today, so she baked.”

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