Betrayed by a lover, Jamie rents an isolated cabin on Lake Huron, wanting only to be left alone. Instead, he is pulled from his solitary existence as an artist and tumbles headlong into the legend of Saint Nicolas.<br><br>As a young man, Nicolas accidentally killed a man intent on murdering three children, only to have the man's malicious spirit rise up against him. Fleeing through the centuries from the Krampus, the evil troll-like creature that dogs his steps, Nico finds refuge with the young artist who takes him into his home and bed. But Jamie has questions. Who is Nicolas, and why does the Krampus want to destroy him?<br><br>When the Krampus begins to torment and torture anyone Nico comes in contact with to punish him, Jamie's life is put in danger. And Jamie isn't sure whether he can help Nico defeat his nemesis or if he's merely a pawn in the Krampus's game.

Nicolas

“Angelo mio,” he murmured and sat on the bed, pulling Jamie close. Jamie fought him at first, half asleep, sweat matting the hair to his forehead. His eyes shot open, wide with horror, and he pulled away with a cry of fear.


But then recognition lit his eyes and he clutched Nico’s arm, pushing his face into his shoulder. “Oh God, Nico! Such a terrible dream,” he gasped, shaking in Nico’s embrace.


“Hush, baby. I’m here. You’re safe.” Nico pressed a kiss to the top of his head, stroked his long hair.


Jamie’s voice held tears. “But it was so real! I saw boys playing in the woods. They were lured into a house. Nico, he killed them! I saw it happen. They begged him, but he took an axe to their small bodies—”


Panicked, Nico stopped his words with a sudden kiss. “It’s over, my love. I’m so sorry. That was my dream, a recurring nightmare. You must have picked up on it, somehow…Or Piter made us share it.”


Chapter 20