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

Oisin knelt beside him. “Bel? Do you need my help? I have three doses of the blood restorative here, so if you do, you won’t hurt me.”


Bel hesitated, then sighed again and nodded. “I do, yes.”


Oisin smiled, leaning in to give him a brief, soft kiss, and not leaning away again. “Take what you need, then.”


“How can you so continually astonish me?” murmured Bel softly, nuzzling against Oisin’s neck.


Oisin had no reply, so he simply slid his arms around Bel, taking the excuse to run his fingers through Bel’s silky hair. He lifted one hand to the back of Bel’s head, encouraging him with gentle pressure. Bel let out a tiny, almost whimpering sound of need and bit in suddenly, swift and hard. Oisin gasped, but didn’t loosen his grip on Bel’s hair one bit.


Chapter 62