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said contritely. "Do go on."
    Both Gavin and his father shook their heads with identical looks on their faces. Gavin continued. "Has that ever happened to you, Father? I just don't know what to make of it."
    Gav and his wife looked lovingly at one another and smiled. "Yes, it has," Gav admitted, still looking into his wife's eyes, vividly remembering what they were doing before Gavin so rudely interrupted them.
    Gavin rolled his eyes and cleared his throat loudly. "Could you elaborate, please?"
    "What? Oh, yes, of course." Gav grinned sheepishly. "I met your mother at a family reunion, having no idea she even existed since she grew up in France. My mother insisted my father attend the family gathering, though he balked for days. He hated long trips and had much to do here, not wanting to leave the care of his home in the hands of…"
    "Father, please! My problem?"
    "Yes, of course. Anyway, we traveled to France for the reunion and there were nearly two hundred family members there; after all it was Samhain as well as a full moon. The bon fires were burning brightly while music played. We were dancing and laughing, and during one of the dances, I swung my partner to the next man, and his partner swung my way. When I grabbed her by the wrist, it was as if lightning struck me. I couldn't even finish the dance. I dragged your mother away from the dance floor, away from the crowds, and I kissed her before even saying a single word to her. That kiss slid through me like hot oil, and my teeth emerged before I knew what was happening."
    "Then," his mother took over, "he wrapped one hand in my hair and tilted my head back in one swift movement. I didn't know he'd done it until his teeth were in my throat and he was drinking my blood."
    "You bit her?" Gavin asked in surprise. "You made my mother what we are?"
    "No, no," Gav laughed. "She was already a vampire, we are cousins, though distant ones. I bit her because she is my mate, and I took her blood into my body. Then she bared her teeth and took my blood into her body. We were bound to one another from that moment on. There could be no other for either of us."
    "You have met your mate, Gavin," Mattie said breathlessly, tears forming in her eyes.
    "Wait a minute. You were both vampires already. Mrs., er, Angela, is quite human."
    "We are human too, son," his father reminded him.
    "I know, but that's not what I meant. I just don't understand how I can want to bite her."
    "Because she is your mate, and it is your instinct to bind yourself to her through the blood-bond," his mother answered.
    "What the hell is the blood-bond, and why haven't you ever told me about it?"
    "Well, son," Gav said. "We intended to, but there hasn't really a reason to, since you have never shown an interest in any one woman before. We figured, when the time came, you'd tell us, and we'd tell you about the blood-bond. And see, you have."
    Gavin shook his head in disbelief. "So, would you mind explaining it me? Now."
    "Of course," his mother replied. "The blood-bond is what happens when our kind meets their true mate; it is the deepest, most sacred union we have with another, and it only happens once. When it happens between two vampires, like your father and I," she looked lovingly at her husband, "we both knew instantly what it was. However, between one of us and a mortal human, it is a little different. You have the desire, and you will be the one to initiate the blood-bond, but once you do, you will be bound to her for all time. If she doesn't return the blood exchange, she will not experience the bonding."
    "So I would be bound to her, but she would not be bound to me?"
    Gav took a deep breath. "Not exactly, son. Once you bite her, take her blood into your body, you must give her your blood. When you do, she will not only be bound to you, she will be whole, again. Her body will heal almost instantly."
    "And she'll be one of us," his mother added.
    Shocked, Gavin poured another drink, tossed it back, then