Prince laced his fingers together and stretched out his legs. “An egg has a shield to protect it, one that’s easily broken. No one is untouchable. And if what you say about the cage fights is true, then you have my full support in taking him down. To be honest, if this was nothing more than his owning a few Breed clubs, I would have walked away. A nuisance? Yes. But by no means a reason to start a war.”

“Is that what we have here? A war?” Austin asked.

Prince leaned forward and steadied his gaze on Austin. “I’ve lived a long time and come from a genetic line so pure that I’ll probably never find a suitable mate who will carry strong children for me—ones that will live as long as I will. Most of the purity has been bred out over the years. I’ve spilled blood on the battlefield and negotiated treaties. This repugnant human won’t rob me of sleep, nor should he you. But once you let in the roaches, they infect. They spread their disease until you’re surrounded by nothing but vermin. Delgado’s power isn’t his personal rise to success—it’s the tricks he’s learning about the favor trading in our world. There’s money in cage fights, but if he’s keeping personal slaves, then I’d guess his fascination with us goes beyond money. He wants to dominate us—turn us against each other like savage animals, just as he does in the cage fights.”

“Why Shifters?”

“Maybe it’s not just us. Maybe he owns Mage bars, but I doubt it. Those immortals have insurmountable wealth and are not easily manipulated. We’re weaker because our struggles for independence are only in the early stages. So many Shifters crave power and money and are easily bought.”

“I can testify to that,” I said. “I’ve worked with all kinds, but since Shifters have it the hardest, they’re likely to do more for the money. It’s a pity.”

“And that is our struggle,” Prince agreed, leaning back in his chair. “We went from slaves living on the brink of society to free men. Yet no wealth to build upon, no home, no land, no skills. And still many continued to shut us out, even though by law they could no longer own us. I remember a time when we were turned away from jobs and no one would accept our business. Packs quickly formed to gain unity and strength, but it was an arduous battle for land. Even now we still fight amongst each other because we know it will take years to catch up to the monetary success the immortals luxuriate in.” Prince’s leg bounced a few times, causing his heel to tap on the wood floor.

“So what are you suggesting?” Austin asked warily.

“Snuff him out.”

A flurry of footsteps tromped down the stairs. “I’m off to work,” April called out.

“Who’s going with you?” Austin looked over his left shoulder and watched April drop her purse on the floor.