“The treaty was formed, and a code agreed upon, but he refused to come and sign his way into the union. My father reached out to meet him alone to try and resolve this for the greater good of the families, but Dimi had other plans. He sent out his men to take down the spouses and offspring of every head of the family as a show of his power … sound familiar?”

That dip in his tone, the eyes narrowing at his amber liquid, and I nod mutely. Things are clicking together, but I’m ...