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

He lowered his glance down a body covered in dried sweat, red with raised welts and shallow cuts. Bruises darkened his ribcage and also the tips of his nipples, as if the clamps had been tugged off without mercy. It was hard to fight the despair crowding at the edge of his thoughts. His eyes burned and he couldn’t cry. Thirst was its own agony. He feared he would do anything for Piter, for a single drop of water to wet his parched throat. His lips felt dry and bloody against his thick tongue.


Slowly he became aware of the clink of heavy chains behind him and horror crept up his spine. Piter wasn’t done with him. At least the sack had been removed. The air felt cooler, and he filled his lungs, steadying his nerves as best he could. He thought longingly of Nico, but quickly crushed his lover’s image from his mind. He wouldn’t help Piter draw him into a trap.


Chapter 66