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

Nico’s arm tightened around him as they realized what the man was implying, and Jamie’s heart thudded. “Is he saying Piter is one of the patients that was brought in?”


Nico’s answer was a strangled hiss. “Yes.”


He felt the shudder that ran through his lover’s frame, then Nico pulled him toward the officer. Jamie’s eyes widened as they drew closer to the blood on the floor, horror filling his mind. Was it moving? What nightmare would Piter conjure to make him go mad with terror?


The officer turned to look at them, narrowing his eyes, but at that instant the doors swished open again and John Meiden hurried inside, snow dusting his shoulders. He gazed wildly around the room and fear touched his face when he spotted them. “Oh my God! Where’s Andy?”


A nurse rushed over. “They’ve taken him into a room, Doctor. This way.”


Jamie and Nico followed but the nurse stopped in the hallway. “You can’t all—”


Chapter 53