The Night Beat, From the Necropolis Enforcement Files by Gini Koch Page A

a cosmic, metaphysical chicken and egg scenario.”
    “What about the Prince?”
    “Same idea, turned to complete evil.”
    “Okay, but there’s, what, hundreds of good gods and only one bad one? How does that work?”
    We pulled into the Prosaic City P.D. parking lot. “The good gods don’t force the other gods to join them.”
    Jack snorted. “The Greek and Roman ones did.”
    “No, they have an almost military hierarchy, but the lowest Greek god still has free will. Zeus can’t stop them from doing whatever they want. He can punish them, but he can’t control them.”
    “And the Prince controls the evil gods?” We parked and got out of the car.
    “No. He absorbs them. There are no evil gods, not any more. The Prince joined them into himself centuries ago.”
    Dawn was coming. Probably less than an hour away. That was going to cause problems for Ken, Amanda and Maurice. I activated my wrist-com. “Count?”
    “Here, as always.”
    “I need our top daytime aerial teams to hook up with Ken and Amanda. Ken’s following a trail, Amanda and Maurice are trailing a human who could be the Prince’s current vessel. Or could just be a lucky drug dealer. We’re not sure yet.”
    “Understood. Sending Black Angel Teams One and Two to support.”
    “Thanks.” I turned off the com.
    “Black angels?”
    “Literally. The best day fliers around.”
    “Real angels? You’re serious?”
    I rolled my eyes. “You’ve seen everything else, or heard about it, and yet the existence of angels seems hard for you to fathom?”
    “I guess I didn’t associate them with --”
    He stopped himself, but I knew what he was thinking. “With ‘my kind’? Yeah, I know. They’re pure and holy and we’re the evil undead.” I tried to keep the hurt out of my voice. Figured I didn’t succeed.
    Jack stopped, grabbed my arm, and pulled me against the side of the building. “That’s not how I meant it.”
    “Yes, it is.” I tried to get away. “Look, we need to see the Chief.”
    “No. We need to get this straightened out, right now.” Jack was a lot taller than me and bigger all around. He was using his body to keep me in place and struggling meant I was rubbing up against him. I tried not to like it and failed completely. Of course, I had werewolf strength, but I didn’t really want to send him flying into the parking lot. Besides, feelings hurt or not, being this close to him made my senses go haywire. He was in a form of supreme manly-mode and it was all I could do not to start that doggy begging whine he seemed to be bringing out in me more and more.
    “There’s nothing to straighten out.” I tried to look away but he had big brown eyes and they were hard to avoid. They were also flashing.
    “I don’t think you’re evil,” he said through gritted teeth. “Or weird or frightening. I don’t even think you’re all that strange.”
    “What do you think I am?” This didn’t come out in the strong, authoritative voice I was shooting for. It came out like a little girl whisper. Sadly, I wasn’t covered with fur, so as I felt my cheeks get hot, I knew Jack could see me blushing like an idiot.
    He gave me a slow smile. “I think you’re one of the best cops I’ve even known. You’re smart, gutsy, funny and loyal, and you have the best instincts going. I also think you’re the hottest woman on two or four legs.”
    Then he bent and kissed me and I started blushing all over. At least, my whole body felt like it was on fire.
    Jack kissed me for a good, long while, until I wasn’t trying to do anything but hump his leg. Hey, there are some things you can’t help if you have a drop of canine in you. He pulled away slowly. “Now, are we past that?”
    “Ah, past kissing?” I was okay with moving fast, but even I had speed limits.
    Jack rolled his eyes. “No. Are we past you thinking I don’t like you because you’re a werewolf?”
    “Um, dunno.”
    He kissed me again. “How about now?”
    I really wanted