My mouth goes dry, bile threatening the back of my throat. I glance down at Samuel, standing at his father's side, hand in hand with Laila as they both wait silently. I look back up at Dominic, his expression bathed in dread as warm tears begin to sting my lids.

"Samuel...," I whisper in my head, "his eyes, Dominic, they were solid black for a split second. I tried telling myself I was just being paranoid but now..."

Laila shifts, moving closer, I look down as she ...