Chapter 2

I’VE BEEN IN EVERSHIFT Haven for a whole week now, and I’m still adjusting. It’s Christmas Eve, and the bell above “The Enchanted Espresso’s” door chimes a festive tune as I step inside with Suzette and Candice. Holiday garlands wrap the exposed wooden beams, and the scent of peppermint and chocolate fills the air.

“Welcome.” Bella waves from behind the counter, her curly hair sparkling with what appears to be actual snowflakes. “You’re just in time to try our December special—the Reindeer’s Delight.”

“What’s in it?” I eye the drink she’s preparing, which sparkles and shifts colors like the northern lights. Suzette mentioned bunny ears before we stopped in, so I’m wary.

“Hot chocolate infused with winter magic, topped with whipped cream that tastes like fresh snow, and a sprinkle of enchanted cinnamon.” Bella’s eyes twinkle. “It used to give people temporary elf ears, until Frost complained it was ‘culturally insensitive.’ Now, it just gives you adorable reindeer antlers for an hour.”

“Antlers?” I raise an eyebrow. “You’re joking.”

“Not at all.” Candice bounces on her toes. “Watch this.” She takes a sip of her drink, and small, velvet-covered antlers sprout from her blonde hair almost immediately. “See?”

“This town gets weirder by the day,” I say but accept the mug Bella hands me. The drink tastes like childhood winter memories and cozy fireside evenings. A warm tingling spreads across my scalp. I touch my head, finding small antlers growing. “This is ridiculous.” I’m grinning as I say it though.

“Speaking of winter magic,” Bella leans across the counter, “We need everyone’s help decorating the town square today. Evershift Haven’s magic handles most of it, but there are always gaps to fill in.”

“Gaps?” asks Suzette.

“The town’s magic creates most decorations, but sometimes, it misses spots. That’s where we come in—hanging extra lights, adding ornaments, and making sure every corner sparkles.”

“The whole town helps?” I ask.

“Everyone pairs up and takes a section.” Bella grins. “In fact, we should head over now. The assignments are about to start.”

The town square buzzes with activity when we arrive. Frost stands in the center, directing people with precise gestures. His silver hair catches the winter sunlight, and his pointed ears peek through the intricate braid.

“Ah, perfect timing.” He spots our group. “Evony, you’ll work with me on the central display.”

I open my mouth to protest, but he’s already walking away, expecting me to follow.

“These garlands need precise placement,” he says, not looking back. “The angles must be exact for proper magical flow.”

“Right.” I roll my eyes. “Heaven forbid we just hang them where they look nice.”

He turns, currently ice-blue eyes narrowing. “This isn’t about aesthetics. The decorations channel magical energy. A human wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.” I cross my arms. “I’m an accountant. I understand precise measurements and calculations better than most.”

“Numbers on paper are different from centuries of magical tradition.”

“Maybe. Or maybe you’re just stuck in your ways and afraid to try something new.”

A few snowflakes swirl around him as his eyes flash, turning almost black. “I’ve been doing this for three hundred years.”

“And how many of those years did you actually try something different?”

His nostrils flare, and he opens his mouth to retort when a loud crack echoes through the square. We both turn to see a string of lights plummet from the sky, narrowly missing a group of startled elves.

“What was that?” I ask, my heart still racing.

Frost’s expression shifts from anger to concern. “The Heart of Haven. Something’s wrong.”

As if on cue, more decorations begin to fall. Garlands slither across the ground like tinsel snakes, and ornaments bounce erratically, shattering against cobblestones.

“Look out,” I shout, pulling Frost aside as a massive wreath tumbles past us.

He grabs my arm, steadying me. Our gazes lock, and for a second, there’s a definite...sizzle between us. then he blinks and drops his hand. “We need to get to the center of town. Now.”

We weave through the chaos, dodging rogue decorations and panicked townsfolk. The closer we get to the town’s center, the more pronounced the magical glitches become. Storefronts flicker like faulty neon signs, and the very air seems to shimmer and warp.

An enormous oak tree stands in the heart of the square, its branches reaching toward the sky. Instead of the vibrant, glowing entity I saw earlier, the tree now pulses with a sickly, dim light.

“The Heart of Haven,” Frost whispers, his voice filled with awe and fear. “It’s failing.”

I stare at the tree, mesmerized by its fading glow. “What does that mean?”

Frost’s face is grim. “It means we’re in serious trouble. The Heart of Haven is the source of our town’s magic, carefully tended by a caretaker—Grizelda for now, and a different witch when she retires. If it fails completely...” He trails off, clearly alarmed.

My mouth is dry all of a sudden. “What happens if it fails?”

He frowns. “If the Heart fails, the barrier protecting Evershift Haven will collapse, and without that barrier, Santa’s portal won’t open.”

I blink, trying to process this information. “Santa’s portal? You mean, Santa Claus is real too?”

A ghost of a smile flickers across Frost’s face. “Of course, he’s real, though he’s fae—Elven, to be exact—not human. Evershift Haven is a key stop on his route. Our magic helps power his sleigh for the long journey.”

Another crack splits the air, and the tree’s glow further dims. Frost winces as if in physical pain.

“So, what happens if Santa can’t get here?” I ask, dreading the answer.

His tone is full of anguish. “Then Evershift Haven loses its Christmas magic, and without that...” He gestures around us. “All of this becomes harder to maintain. Our home, our way of life, and everything we’ve built here, could be at risk. If The Heart of Haven isn’t revitalized with Santa’s magic, since Grizelda is clearly unable to right now, the entire town would be exposed to the human realm, and Santa’s trip will be delayed too. He might not be able to finish without the symbiotic energy boost.”

I gasp when his words sink in. This isn’t just about decorations or a festival. It’s about the very existence of this magical place, all the beings who call it home, and about four billion human children, who stand to be disappointed too. “There has to be something we can do,” I say, surprising myself with how determined I am to fix this.

Frost looks at me with an arched eyebrow. “You want to help? Even though you’ve only just learned about all this?”

I nod. “I’m new to magic, but I’m good at problem-solving. There’s always a solution if you look at things from a different angle.”

For a moment, he seems to really see me for the first time. His eyes narrow as he studies me. “You’re serious?”

I nod once more. “Absolutely. Just tell me what needs to be done.”

He hesitates for a moment, then sighs. “Very well. There are three enchanted items we need to retrieve. They should help amplify the Heart’s magic and stabilize it.”

“Great,” I say, pulling out my phone to take notes. “What are they?”

Frost blinks at my phone. “That won’t work here. The magical interference—”

“Oh, right.” I pocket the device and grab a nearby fallen twig. With a quick movement, I scratch a list in the snow. “Okay, go on.”

He raises an eyebrow but continues. “First, we need the Christmas Star. It’s hidden somewhere in my shop, but the shelves tend to...rearrange themselves, and it’s probably lost in a labyrinth at the moment.”

I jot down “Christmas Star—Frost’s shop” in the snow. “Sounds like a scavenger hunt. What’s next?”

“The Snow Globe of Eternal Winter. It’s at ‘Mystic Melodies,’ but Heather Siren keeps it locked away. She’s...particular about who handles it.”

I add “Snow Globe—‘Mystic Melodies’” to my list. “And the third item?”

“An Evergreen Branch from the oldest, most sacred tree in The Whispering Woods. The trees there are sentient and protective of their magic. It won’t be easy to convince them to part with a branch, but they do like Throk, and your friend Candice has spoken to them. Not everyone can understand them.”

I finish my list with “Evergreen Branch—Whispering Woods. Candice and Throk?” “All right, we have our targets. What’s our timeline?”

He glances at the dimming Heart of Haven. “We have until midnight. If we don’t stabilize the Heart by then, the barrier will fall, and Santa’s portal won’t open.”

“No pressure,” I mutter. “Okay, let’s start with your shop. It’s closest, and we know exactly what we’re looking for.”

Frost nods, a hint of surprise in his eyes. “You’re taking charge quite efficiently for someone who just learned magic exists.”

“I’ve known for a whole week now,” I say with a forced smile and then shrug. “Magic or not, this is still a problem that needs solving. I’m good at that.”

I stand, brushing snow from my knees as I think about the problems I’ve encountered in the real world, mostly because nothing has ever been a clear fit. I don’t have time to dwell on that, but oddly, I feel in my element here, at least as we embark on our treasure hunt. “Lead the way to your shop, Frost.”