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

In Bel’s spacious bedroom Bel shed his robe and climbed into the bed nude. Oisin had been in the habit of sleeping in his own robe, but he decided to do the same, and it was good to cuddle up against Bel skin to skin. Bel enfolded him in a tight embrace, and Oisin pressed into it. He could feel a faint shudder go through Bel, and asked softly, “Are you alright?”


“I…” He shuddered again. “I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to forget today. I want to forget that…That I nearly died. That my name was used against me.”


“Oh Bel. Mehshabel. Can I still say it?”


“Yes. Always. Please. Hearing it from your lips might erase it from his. I…” He hesitated a long moment, then bent his head to Oisin suddenly and kissed him hard, almost desperately.


Chapter 73