Deep in a Louisiana bayou lurked the heart of darkness-- and Guy Poiters' penance. A tragedy in his youth had torn him away from sweetheart Mary Deveraux and consumed his life with guilt. Now only Mary's white magic and a single gold coin offered clues to his salivation.

It waited.

Mary hadn't forgotten the Cajun boy who'd been her best friend. And now, the grown-up Guy was inspiring desires she knew he shared. But to settle the past, they would need to confront the very root of evil before...

It struck.