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

Fand had pulled the whip from her belt and was uncoiling it, letting the long tail of it fall free. Oisin felt a shudder go through him as he looked at it. The goddess’s eyes met Oisin’s, and she smiled a dark, predatory smile. “I have killed men with this whip before, mortal child.”


Oisin looked away. Bel’s hand fell on his shoulder and he squeezed. “You don’t have to watch. Even if you don’t go home, you can go elsewhere. The island is small, but…”


Bel only nodded and finished shedding his robe and the light tunic he wore beneath it, standing only in his hose.


“Against the boulder, there.” Fand gestured, her smile still cruel. “I would hate to have you fall over before I’m done.”


Bel nodded again and faced the large, looming stone she’d pointed at, putting his hands against it, his back to Fand. He reached back and pulled his hair forward, over his shoulder, baring his back completely, then put his hands back on the stone.


Chapter 61