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

“God forgave me,” he reminded the Krampus, hating the pleading note in his voice.


“Forgiveness does not change what we did. We are murderers. I killed those children and you stole my life. We must accept our punishment. We deserve damnation.”


The Krampus tightened his hold, squeezing the breath from Nico’s lungs. The creature smelled of rot and despair. Nico’s mind reeled. He didn’t want to die! He wanted his life with Jamie and the chance to bring some peace to the world. But the Krampus crushed the life from him. Fire licked at him from the abyss.


“Dio mi salvi!” he cried out, desperate for God’s intervention. If he had been forgiven, why did the Krampus still hold this power over him? If he’d forgiven himself, what was left?


Tears made the Krampus a blurred nightmare, but Nico clasped him, putting his lips close to the goblin’s ear. The heat and stench came near choking him. “You are my inner darkness, Krampus. I accept that, but I don’t give in to you.”


Chapter 74