“Drugs?” Allie asked with distraction as she watched Alessandro finish attaching a length of chain to the top end of the bed on this side and then move down to attach another at the foot of the bed. The comforter had been stripped from the bed and a length of what looked to her to be clear plastic sheeting had been laid over the remaining bed linens. Katricia was now opening an old fitted sheet to put over the linens and plastic sheeting.

“The drugs help ease the turn a bit,” Elvi explained.

“Uh-huh,” Allie muttered, hardly hearing the explanation as she watched Alessandro finish with the chain at the bottom of the bed on this side, and then carry two more lengths around to the other side. “But why is Alessandro attaching chains to the bed?”

Elvi turned to watch Alessandro too, and said, “Well, we used to have to run the chains under the bed, but after Tiny’s turn, Victor got special reinforced bed frames so we didn’t have to worry about them snapping and now we can just attach them to the frame itself. Of course, we haven’t had anyone turn here since he did that.” Shaking her head, she turned back with a wry smile. “Isn’t that the way of it? Have something happen several times, and then once you’re prepared for it, these things never occur. Or at least not for years, since it’s about to happen again.”

Allie had no idea who Tiny was, but didn’t really care in that moment either. She was more concerned with: “Why do we need chains, though?”

“Rope wouldn’t hold up against immortal strength,” Elvi pointed out, and then patted her arm. “It will be fine.”

“Why don’t we get you on the bed,” Magnus suggested, trying to urge her forward by the hold he had on her arm.

Allie dug her heels in, resisting. “Not until someone explains what the chains are for. They aren’t necessary. I’m doing this of my own free will.”

“Yes, of course you are,” Elvi said at once. “We wouldn’t do it otherwise. It’s against immortal law to turn someone unwillingly.”

“Yes, but the point is, since I’m willing, you don’t need to chain me down.”

“Oh, goodness, no!” Elvi said at once. “We know that. The chains aren’t to keep you here. They’re to . . . help you.”

“Help me what?” she asked with a frown.

When Elvi hesitated and then turned to Magnus expectantly, he grimaced and merely said, “It will keep you from rolling off the bed or . . . anything,” he ended lamely.

“You’re going to chain me to the bed to keep me from rolling off of it?” she asked dubiously, and then demanded, “What aren’t you telling me?”

“Probably a lot,” Magnus admitted on a sigh.