Everyone gave Allie reassuring smiles when she walked back out in the voluminous white gown, but it didn’t hide their anxiety. It seemed obvious she wasn’t the only one worried about what was to come. Pushing that thought down to join the other worries trying to overwhelm her, Allie climbed onto the bed, laid on her back, and spread her arms and legs out toward the sides.

“Go ahead. Chain me up and let’s get this party started,” she said with more bravado than real courage. God, she was scared.

“Are you sure?” Magnus asked with a frown. “We can leave the chains off until the turn actually starts if you wish.”

Allie didn’t miss the dismay that crossed Elvi’s face at those words and shook her head firmly. “Go on. Chain me down and let’s go. The sooner we start, the sooner it’ll be done.”

Alessandro and Leonora moved to the chains at the foot of the bed, while Magnus and Tricia chained her wrists. Tricia did it standing, but Magnus settled on the side of the bed to do up his and she swallowed and avoided looking at him while he worked.

Once they were done, Allie tugged on her arms and legs, managing a brave smile when she couldn’t move them at all. They’d trussed her up good. “Okay,” she said, and then paused to clear her throat when her voice came out a squeak. Much to her relief it sounded almost normal when she tried again. “Okay, so . . . Now what?” Allie peered uncertainly around the group that had now gathered around the bed. They looked like devil worshippers at a virginal sacrifice. Her gaze landed last on Magnus, who still sat next to her, and she asked, “I suppose Leonora uses a needle to withdraw your blood and give it to me?”

“No, honey,” Mabel said when everyone else remained silent. “He has to give you his blood himself. Needles don’t work with this.”

“What?” she asked with disbelief. “Then how is he going to—” The words died abruptly and her jaw dropped in shock when Magnus suddenly raised his arm, allowed his fangs to slide out, and then ripped into his wrist with a violence that was both startling and really quite disgusting, she thought with dismay as he lowered his arm and she saw the blood smearing his face. Then she saw the damage he’d done to his wrist. He hadn’t just sunk his teeth in and bit, he’d torn his wrist open and blood was squirting out like a geyser as he turned it toward her.

Her mouth hanging open in shock came in handy. Magnus was able to place his wrist quickly across her open mouth so the blood gushed in. But Allie just laid there for a heartbeat, gaping at him over his arm, and then she struggled to raise her hands to force it away, but they, of course, were chained.

“Swallow,” Magnus instructed.