Silent as the Slay — Michael Anderle

Even Santa Claus can't take a honeymoon without trouble finding him. From his fortified Workshop at the North Pole, special forces veteran turned magical warrior Kris Kringle should be focusing on Christmas preparations. Instead, he's haunted by his failure to eliminate Krampus—a demon-masked killer with advanced tactical gear who matches him blow for blow. When an innocent French girl with a childhood connection to Kris is kidnapped by mercenaries, he knows his dark reflection has resurfaced. The hunt takes Kris and his CIA-trained wife Claudia from snow-shrouded mountain fortresses to sweltering tropical islands, facing off against elite mercenary teams with experimental weaponry. Behind Krampus lurks an ancient evil—one that's spent centuries gathering power and resources while waiting for the perfect moment to strike at the heart of Christmas itself. With time running out, Kris must make an impossible choice: protect the innocent hostage, or stop Krampus and his mysterious backer before they can unleash their master plan. Will Kris unmask the evil behind his greatest enemy before Christmas is destroyed forever? Or will the next name on the naughty list be Santa Claus himself?