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

“It’s beautiful,” said Oisin softly.


“Thank you,” said Bel. “Thank you for everything. You have literally changed my world. I know I have not given you much in return of late. And I thank you for that, too. I trust you, but it’s harder to trust myself. You’ve been very patient with me.”


Oisin looked up at him, seeing the way the sunlight touched his pale skin, the way it shone in his silver eyes. He saw what else shone in those eyes too, saw the wealth of emotion that lay behind Bel’s words. “You’re worth waiting for,” he said simply, and reached up to pull Bel down for a soft, sweet kiss.


Chapter 51