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

With a shout of panic and horror, Jamie scrambled for the head of the bed, pressing his back to the carved headboard as the goblin mounted the mattress and crawled toward him. It lifted its heavy head, the wild green eyes pinning Jamie in place as it came up to him. He felt frozen by the creature’s stare, unable to raise his arms in defense. Jamie’s chest heaved, and he fought a scream as the thing climbed onto his lap and straddled him, its weight holding him captive.


“What do you want?” he managed to whisper, fear tight in his throat. The others slept. Why did the thing keep him awake?


Chapter 36