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

“You’re mine, Nicolas. No questions,” it hissed.


Nico nodded. He was. Even if he’d killed the butcher by accident, so many others had suffered because of him through the years. He needed to atone for his sins.


Despite his better judgment, Nico glanced at Jamie on the floor, and was caught at once in his wide, vulnerable gaze, seeing into his pure, bright soul. Anguish and longing, love and unbearable loneliness lived there, calling out to him. But more than that, the blaze of life in him touched an answering spark in Nico’s breast. He wasn’t ready to die


“Stay with me,” Jamie pleaded. “If you go with him, you’ll be lost in his madness. Please, just stay.”


“Forgive yourself! Nicolas, you meant no harm. And if your God is love, he would have forgiven you long ago.”


Chapter 69