Chapter 1

I GRIP THE STEERING wheel of my Toyota, my knuckles white as I navigate the winding Montana road. The GPS on my phone stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the existence of Evershift Haven, but Suzette’s directions linger in my mind. “Just follow the feeling,” she’d said cryptically over the phone. “You’ll know when you’re close.”

The autumn landscape blurs past my windows in a blur of gold and crimson. I shake my head, still struggling to process Suzette’s sudden change in living circumstances. I’m thrilled she quit being an attorney, since it made her miserable and sucked all the fun from her life, but it’s a drastic change to uproot everything and move to a small mountain town. Plus, she’s been a bit tightlipped about her new life and her boyfriend, Throk.

He’s probably some Norwegian guy into Scandinavian death metal with a name like that. Surely, it isn’t his given name. I have my doubts and reservations, but Suzette sounds happier than she has in years, so I’m going in with an open mind.

A flicker of movement catches my eye, and I slam on the brakes. There, standing at the side of the road, is Suzette. My sister looks exactly as she always has—perfectly pressed pantsuit, hair neatly pulled back, and not a hint of being a groupie for a death metal band.

“Suzette?” I call out, rolling down my window. “What are you doing out here?”

She strides toward my car with a smile. “Waiting for you, of course. Pull over, Candice. We’re almost there.”

I obey, guiding my car onto the gravel shoulder. She opens the passenger door and slides in beside me. “Just give it a second,” she says, her tone maddeningly calm.

“Give what a second? Suzette, what’s going on?”

My words die in my throat as a shimmering flash of light engulfs the car. For a moment, everything goes white, and I squeeze my eyelids shut against the brightness. When I open them again, the world has changed.

Gone is the empty Montana road. Instead, we’re parked at the entrance to a quaint town square that looks like it’s been plucked from a storybook. Cobblestone streets wind between Tudor-style buildings adorned with strings of twinkling lights. The air is filled with the scent of cinnamon and woodsmoke, and I swear I can hear the faint strains of music drifting on the breeze.

“Welcome to Evershift Haven,” Suzette says, grinning at my slack-jawed expression. “Grizelda arranged to bring you straight here. When I accidentally drove through the barrier, it killed Vivi...which reminds me, you’re going to love the new her.” She grins.

I blink rapidly, certain I must be hallucinating. “This... this isn’t possible. How did we get here? Where are we?”

Suzette reaches over and pats my hand. “I know it’s a lot to take in. I reacted the same way when I first arrived, but I promise you, everything you see is real...and magical.”

I turn to face her, searching for any sign this is an elaborate prank, but all I see is sincerity—and excitement. “You’re serious? This place...is actually magical?” I can’t hide my skepticism.

She nods. “More than you can imagine.”

At her direction, I guide my car through the winding streets of Evershift Haven, my knuckles white on the steering wheel. Suzette chatters excitedly beside me, pointing out various shops and landmarks.

“Oh, look.” She gestures to a quaint storefront with a sign that reads “The Whimsical Wardrobe.” “That’s where I got this amazing sweater that changes color based on my mood. Right now, it would probably be flashing like a disco ball.”

I force a laugh, trying to keep my eyes on the road and not on the impossibilities surrounding us. A group of children runs past, one of them floating a few inches off the ground.

“Suzette,” I say, my voice strained. “This isn’t funny anymore. What’s really going on here?”

She turns to me, her expression softening. “I know it’s a lot to accept, Candi, but I’m not playing a joke on you. This is real.”

I pull the car over, unable to concentrate on driving. “Real? You expect me to believe magic is real? That this whole town is...what? Some kind of magical dimension?”

“Well, yes,” Suzette says. “That’s exactly what it is. A pocket dimension, where magic thrives and magical beings can live freely.”

I close my eyelids, counting to ten. When I open them, the fantastical scene remains unchanged. “Okay, let’s say for a moment I believe you. Why are you here? You’re not magical.”

Suzette shifts in her seat, a hint of excitement in her voice. “Actually, I am. Or at least, I have the potential to be. Remember how I always had a knack for knowing exactly what someone needed in court? Turns out, I have latent empathic abilities. I’ve been learning to develop them here.”

I stare at her, trying to reconcile this information with the sister I’ve known all my life. “So, you just abandoned your career, your life, for...this?”

“I didn’t abandon anything, Candi. I found myself.” She reaches out, placing a hand on my arm. “And I think you could too, if you give it a chance.”

I shake my head, pulling away. My sister has somehow found herself in a cult. And they use a lot of hallucinogens. That must be it. “This is crazy. We need to leave. Now. You need deprogramming.”

“Candice, wait—”

I’m already out of the car, pacing on the sidewalk. A gentle breeze carries the scent of cinnamon and...something else I can’t quite identify, along with a faint trace of ozone. Despite my panic, I take deep breaths since the aroma is oddly calming.

Suzette joins me, her expression concerned. “I know this is overwhelming. How about we go to my place and talk? Maybe that will help it feel more real.”

I laugh, the sound bordering on hysterical. “More real? Nothing about this is real.”

As if to contradict me, a small creature—is that a pixie?—flits past, leaving a trail of sparkling dust in its wake. I watch, mesmerized, as the dust settles on a nearby flowerbed, causing the blooms to grow and change colors.

My sister gently takes my hand. “Come on. Let’s start with something simple. Let me show you my home.” She takes my hand and leads me back to the car, and I let her.

Once behind the wheel again, I ease my Toyota along the winding road, following Suzette’s directions. The trees seem to press in closer, their branches creating dappled shadows on the windshield. As we round a bend, a clearing opens up before us, and I slam on the brakes, my jaw dropping. “Suzette, is that a giant mushroom?”

“Throk’s place above the garage was really too small, so Grizelda offered to make us a house.” My sister grins. “Welcome to my humble abode.”

The cottage before us is indeed crafted from an enormous mushroom, its cap forming a gently sloping roof. Round windows, framed by delicate gills, peek out from the sturdy stem. The entire structure glows with a soft, ethereal light. “This can’t be real,” I whisper, clutching the steering wheel like I’m about to float away.

“Oh, it’s very real,” she says, unbuckling her seatbelt. “Come on. I’ll give you the grand tour.”

I follow her out of the car, my legs shaking. The air here smells different—earthy and sweet, with an underlying tang I can’t quite place. When we approach the front door, I notice small jars lining the path, each filled with gently glowing spores. “Are those bioluminescent?” I ask, crouching to examine one more closely.

She laughs. “Something like that. They’re fairy lights—literally. Local fairies collect their shed wing dust and store it in these jars. It’s a sustainable lighting solution.”

I stand up quickly, nearly toppling over. “Fairies? Suzette, what’s going on here?” How has my levelheaded sister become...this?

She places a hand on my shoulder, her expression softening. “I know you’re in shock, but let’s have some tea, and I’ll explain everything.”

The interior of the mushroom cottage is cozy and warm. The walls curve organically, creating nooks and crannies filled with books, plants, and curious artifacts. A spiral staircase winds up through the center of the main room, disappearing into the cap above.

“This is incredible,” I say, running my hand along a smooth, polished section of the inner stem. “How is this even possible?”

She busies herself in the small kitchen area, filling a kettle. “Magic, of course. Evershift Haven isn’t just a quirky town. It’s a magical community.”

I laugh, the sound verging on hysterical. “Magic? Suzette, you’re a lawyer, not a wizard. What’s really going on here?” My sister has clearly cracked. Or I have.

She turns to face me, her expression serious. “I know it sounds crazy, but I’m telling you the truth. Evershift Haven exists in a pocket dimension, hidden from the rest of the world. It’s a sanctuary for magical beings and humans, some with latent magical abilities.”

The kettle whistles, and she pours steaming water into two mugs. She hands one to me, and I inhale the familiar scent of chamomile. The normality of the tea is almost jarring in this surreal setting. “So, what? You’re saying you’re magic now?” I ask, taking a sip of the soothing brew.

She nods, settling into a plush armchair that seems to grow right out of the floor. “I’ve always had a touch of empathic ability. I could always tell when you were upset, even when you tried to hide it?”

I nod slowly, memories flooding back. Suzette had always been unnaturally perceptive.

“It turns out that was just the tip of the iceberg. When I stumbled into Evershift Haven, I discovered my true potential. I’ve been learning to harness and develop my abilities ever since.”

“But your job? Your life in the city?” I ask, struggling to reconcile this new information with the sister I thought I knew.

Suzette shrugs. “I realized there was more to life than climbing the corporate ladder. Here, I can use my skills to really help people. I mediate disputes between different magical factions and community members right now. It’s just a part-time position under Mayor Spellbinder, but it’s challenging, fulfilling work.”

I shake my head, trying to clear it. “This is insane.”

“Look around you, Candi. You’re sitting in a house made from an enlarged mushroom. How else would you explain this?”

I open my mouth to argue, but no words come out. How can I argue with what I’m seeing? With what I’m feeling?

A soft chime reverberates through the room, and I jump. Suzette smiles apologetically. “That’s just the door. Probably Puckley. She said she’d stop by with some fresh produce.”

Before I can ask who Puckley is, the front door swings open on its own. A small, wizened woman with pointed ears and skin the color of tree bark toddles in, carrying a basket overflowing with vibrant fruits and vegetables.

“Afternoon, dearie,” she calls out to Suzette. “Brought you some of those singing carrots you like so much, and a few...”

She trails off, noticing me for the first time. Her eyes widen, and she turns to Suzette with a mischievous grin. “Oh, ho. Is this the sister you’ve told us so much about?”

Suzette nods, standing to take the basket. “Puckley, this is my sister, Candice. Candi, this is Puckley. She runs a magical farm on the outskirts of town.”

I stare at Puckley, taking in her otherworldly appearance. “Magical...farm?”

She cackles, and the sound reminds me of wind through autumn leaves. “Oh, yes. Where else would you get singing carrots and mood-changing lettuce?”

I look to Suzette for explanation, but she just shrugs. “Puckley’s produce is the best in town. Wait until you try her giggling butternut squash.”

Puckley beams at the compliment, then turns her attention back to me. “So, newcomer, what do you think of our little haven?”

I open and close my mouth several times, struggling to find words. “I... it’s... I don’t know what to think,” I finally manage.

The old woman’s eyes soften with understanding. “Ah, it’s always a shock at first, but you’ll see, dearie. Evershift Haven has a way of growing on you.”

As if to emphasize her point, a tendril of ivy snakes its way down from the ceiling, curling affectionately around her shoulders. She pats it absently, like one would pet a cat.

“I should be going,” she says, heading for the door. “Lots to do before the feast.”

With that, she toddles out, leaving me more confused than ever. “Suzette, I think I’m going to need a lot more tea.”