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?” he called out in his mind one more time, despairing. He heard a whistling, and flinched at the crack in the air when the tip struck him. Numbness, then pain blossomed from his shoulder. An uncontrollable shudder ran through his aching body. Instantly, the whip cracked again and he screamed this time when it flicked at his skin.


“Help me!” he cried out when he hadn’t meant to make a sound. Silence filled the space, then he heard the heavy clomp of hooves, and he moaned in pain as a coarse tongue licked over his wounds. He shivered when the tongue flicked his ear. Sharp teeth nipped the lobe.


“Did you think Nico would save you, pet?” Derision dripped in the goblin’s words. “Why, my love, he’s the one who calls me to life.”


Chapter 67