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 apparently noticed, for after a moment he sat back, taking his weight from Oisin and looking down at him with a smile. Oisin felt his cheeks heating. “Ah, sorry.”


“You have nothing to be sorry for. There’s no shame in feeling pleasure. Indeed, I think I could count it a compliment that I have gotten you so worked up so swiftly.”


Oisin chuckled. “I guess.” He sighed faintly and added, “Now I’m a mess, though.”


“There is one simple remedy for that,” said Bel with a smile, and then he once again picked Oisin up and began carrying him up the hill.


As Oisin leaned his head against Bel’s chest, he could hear that he was still breathing, though his panting had slowed somewhat. “Bel?”


“You don’t normally breathe, I know. But you seem to start doing so nearly every time we kiss lately. Why?”


Chapter 55