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

“Did whoever gave you that amulet tell you that?”


“What if he did? What if I have a powerful patron now too? Are you jealous of me?”


“What? No! But you’re speaking against Belinos, and I won’t hear it.”


“And hearing the truth about your lover upsets you, I suppose?”


“Caydren! What has gotten into you? I’ve said before, he’s not my lover.”


“Oh yes, this whole ‘sacrifice’ nonsense.” Caydren was sneering now, his lips drawn back, and his knuckles were white on the stick he’d been whittling.


“It’s not nonsense.” Oisin tried to stay calm, even though hot anger boiled in him. Screaming at Caydren wouldn’t accomplish anything.


“It is. It’s absurd. You’re deluded and your relationship with that monster that calls itself a god is sick.” Caydren rose, still clutching the stick in one hand.


Oisin took a step back. “What is wrongwith you?”


Chapter 36