From that moment onward, Morana became little more than his puppet. Bound by the magic of their bargain, she was forced to obey his every whim no matter how cruel or humiliating his commands were. And worst of all, the duke delighted in her suffering. He took pleasure in stripping away every ounce of freedom and dignity she had left.
When he learned that she had left a son behind in Lamora, his cruelty only deepened.
Knowing exactly where to wound her most, he forbade her from ever contacting Ragnar. The power of their bargain made it impossible for her to disobey.
She could not go to her son. She could not send letters.
She could not even ask others to check on him in her stead and as an extra act of punishment, the duke twisted the magic further so that Ragnar himself would never be able to track her down once he grew older.
There were few things more absolute than a bargain forged between demons, which was why such deals were feared throughout the realms.
