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

“Here, let me,” said Oisin. He climbed from the tub, water sluicing down his body. Bel watched, his expression puzzled, his cheeks once again faintly pink, but cooperated when Oisin nudged him forward and climbed in behind him. He took the soft soap from its box and began to work it into Bel’s long hair, carefully washing the dark, clotted blood from the silky silver strands, using his fingers to comb it straight as he did.


Bel sighed deeply. “Ah, my little deer. You are too kind to me. You…You are too good for me. I do not remotely deserve you.” His voice was suddenly choked, and Oisin was startled to realize that tears were trickling down his cheeks. “Even when your foolishness in attempting to save me almost killed you, you were wise enough to know how to stop me. How can you be so wise? How can you be so good? How can someone like you be content here, with a creature like me?”


Chapter 40