Bonus chapter (Magic castle reward)

The atmosphere of The Golden Thread shop suddenly felt stifling to Zafron and Mara. Their eyes, wide with shock, remained fixed on the unexpected arrivals: Malachi Vex and Lady Cordelia Fairfax. The pair's laughter echoed through the shop, oblivious to the turmoil they'd inadvertently caused.

Mara's hand shot out, gripping Zafron's arm with surprising strength. In one fluid motion, she yanked him down behind a cluster of ornate gowns displayed for browsing customers. They crouched low, hidden from view but with a partial line of sight to the newcomers.

"What in the world is lady Cordelia doing here in Drakoria?" Mara whispered, her voice trembling. "And with Malachi Vex of all people!"

Zafron, still processing the shock, shook his head in disbelief. "I don't know," he murmured. "But Vex's reputation precedes him. A certified womanizer if there ever was one. It's a boy amusing though how he moved from Matilda to now one of if not her closest friends,"