For years now the harvest has been less than it should be. Last year the people of Oisin's village sacrificed a goat, but their god did not come. Now, in desperation, a human sacrifice has been suggested, and Oisin, recently orphaned and feeling life is not worth living, volunteers. But the god Belinos is not quite what he seems, and Oisin's sacrifice will not be what he expects, for Belinos first came out of the darkness to drink the sacrificial blood not because he was a god, but because he was a vampire. This is just the beginning of the changes to Oisin's life, as he is drawn further and further into a world of gods and magic, where the most unexpected thing is not even his own blossoming talent, but the blossoming feelings he has for Belinos. Love between mortal and immortal is not without its difficulties, though. As outright war among the gods threatens, Oisin will end up making a far greater difference in the conflict than he could ever have dreamed possible.

The Sacrifice

Bel brushed his fingers along Oisin’s cheek again, shaking his head in wonder. Finally he let his hand drop. “Would you care to keep me company tonight? I have been trying to give you your space, but it is sometimes…good to not be alone.”


“It is, yes.” Oisin reached out and took Bel’s hand.


Bel twined his long, cool fingers with Oisin’s smaller ones and smiled again, softly. A trace of blood still rested on his lips, but that did nothing to make the expression any less warm or wonderful. Oisin felt a strange glow within at the thought that such warmth should be directed at him. He dared to reach up and wipe away that little trace. Bel froze for a moment, startled, then squeezed Oisin’s hand. “You are a wonder indeed.”


Oisin and Bel were reading together in the library when a great booming echoed through the palace.


Chapter 15