> In an official statement, the Kraej Company has denied any connection to Green Marine, and, by extension, the recent oil spill off the coast of Godeke.

>

> “The Kraej Company owned two percent of Green Marine two years ago, but the shares were sold to a private buyer,” said the company.

>

> ― A. Bergh, “Kraej Company Denies Involvement in Oil Spill," Global Newswire

Israfel

You could have knocked me over with a feather when Oren told me that Asteria, of all people, was the woman that Seraph had been pining over.

Me, I like the tall and dangerous type. Uriel likes ‘em tall, too. ELs generally do.

Seraph and little Asteria? How does he stop himself from accidentally crushing her?

Not to mention that I thought she and Oren had something going on. They seemed perfect together, being the same age and all.

It’s none of my business, of course, but it was a hot topic at the barracks. Almost everyone had something to say about it, and people had been asking me and Oren about her a lot. We both remained close-mouthed about Seraph’s new girlfriend.

Today, right as I was going off to enjoy my one day off a week, Oren came to me for help. Asteria had called him and asked him to go with her somewhere. That was fine but she wouldn’t say where. Oren said it sounded very mysterious, and he was worried she might be in trouble. Seraph was on a mission.

I agreed to go with him and Katja since I had nothing better to do. My girlfriend wasn’t free to see me today. Asteria said she was going to meet them at the diner where Katja worked.

“I think she might be in some real trouble,” said Oren. The squirt was in uniform. So was I. I would normally change into street clothes, but the EL A-class uniform would give people pause if they wanted to make trouble.

“There’s Katja,” I said when I saw her arrive.

Now, Katja, she’s a real woman. Her kick could break your jaw and maybe your head if you made her angry. She’s not a fragile-looking waif like Asteria. On the other hand, Asteria’s chest beat hers by a huge margin. Katja was wearing a T-shirt with black jeans and boots today.

Katja waited until we were close before saying, “Hey, who invited him?”

She was only joking. I’m pretty sure she likes me. I said, “Good morning to you, too.”

“I did,” said Oren.”I thought we could use his help.”

“Probably.” Katja sighed. “Who knows what kind of trouble Asteria’s in this time?”

This time? I didn’t know she was the type who caused trouble.

“At least it isn’t Seraph. He’s on a mission,” said Oren.

A black van stopped in front of us. I stepped back, and so did Oren and Katja. The van’s door slid open, and a familiar blonde head poked out of it.

“Come in,” said Asteria. The dress she was wearing didn’t show much skin, but she looked unhurt, and the expression on her face was calm.

Inside, I could see two Lifers in the van with her. None of us made any move to join her.

“What’s this about?” asked Oren. He was eyeing the Lifers warily.

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“Uh, I just need your moral support. Something’s come up,” said Asteria.

What a lame answer.

“Are you okay?” asked Katja.

“I’m fine. It’s nothing bad. I mean, it’s just something weird.” Asteria seemed rattled, but she wasn’t shrinking from the Lifers, nor did it look like she was being forced to say that.

“You’re not in trouble?” I asked.

“I’m not. It’s weird, but it’s the opposite. Come inside,” said Asteria.

Oren and I exchanged concerned looks, but Katja was the one who decided things for us. She got in the van first, and we followed her.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to talk about it on the street,” said Asteria when we were all inside and the van had started up.

“Okay, tell us what this is all about,” said Katja.

“It’s like this. A few years ago I met Magnus Kraej. I did him a small favor,” said Asteria. Her honey-colored hair hung loose down her back, and she was wearing a blue sweater over a pink dress.

Oren glanced at the Lifers before asking, “What’s the problem then?”

“There’s no problem. It’s just that I was given this as a reward.” She showed us a set of keys. “It’s for a penthouse apartment. Magnus is showing it to me. He’ll meet us there.”

She calls him “Magnus” not “sir” or “Mr. Kraej”?

Oren, Katja, and I went into a huddle.

“Is that code for ‘help me, I’m being kidnapped’? I can’t tell,” said Katja.

“This doesn’t add up,” said Oren.

I grabbed Oren’s hand and angled it away from the Lifers. I wrote “love nest” on it with a finger then an X. Oren’s eyes widened.

“What?” asked Katja.

I was shocked when a Lifer turned to Asteria and whispered in her ear. “Miss, they think you’re asking them to rescue you from being imprisoned in the young master’s love nest.”

“Love nest? What the heck?! No, that’s not it. I just want someone to be there with me when I see the place.” Asteria leaned her head on Katja’s shoulder. “I want someone normal there.”

“Normal? What do you mean?” asked Katja. She put her arm around Asteria.

“Do you think giving someone a penthouse apartment is reasonable? Magnus is trying to make me think this whole thing is nothing out of the ordinary. I just want you there for moral support.”

“Maybe giving someone an apartment is normal for a Kraej. That’s probably like pocket change to a guy like him,” I said.

“You think so?” Asteria looked confused.

Of course not. Rich people don’t become rich by giving things away. Magnus wants something from you that’s more valuable than that apartment. The Kraej wouldn’t be sending the Lifers to reward someone. They’re only sent to take care of dangerous situations.

I didn’t say any of that. I just said, “Relax. It’s probably fine.”

It’s not like there was anything she could do about it. Even for a Kraej, a gift of this magnitude wouldn’t have been done on a whim. There was definitely some sort of reason behind it.

“Do you really think so?” Asteria didn’t look convinced.

Katja and Oren looked as worried as I felt.

The residential building the Lifers took us to was near the Kraej Company headquarters. It was an ornate tower topped by a golden pyramid. This was obviously a home for millionaires, the type where each floor was just one apartment. The barrel-vaulted lobby was quiet as a tomb. I counted twelve guards, but there were probably more out of sight. The entire place was being monitored by strategically placed cameras.

Once inside, two Lifers who were standing guard at the elevator landing asked us to give our weapons and artifacts to them. Then they quickly and efficiently searched us before we were allowed to enter the elevator. A Lifer escorted us to the penthouse.

“Fancy,” said Katja as she looked around at the foyer’s marble floors, mirrored walls, and a central table covered in vases filled with long-stemmed flowers.

A black-clad butler opened the door for us.

“Huh? Where’s Magnus?” The spacious living room was empty. Floor-to-ceiling windows gave us a sweeping view of the city skyline. The decor was modern, but a little too white and sterile for me. It reminded me of a hotel lobby.

A door to the left of us opened, and three Lifers entered the room, followed by Magnus Kraej. The Kraej heir’s famous hazel eyes were smaller and colder than I had expected based on his official photographs. His three-piece suit probably cost more than one year of my salary. When he smiled at us, I saw that his teeth were very white and even.

“I see you’ve brought some friends,” said Kraej.

“Magnus, these are my friends Oren, Katja, and Israfel. Everyone, this is Magnus Kraej,” said Asteria.

Magnus’ handshake was firm, but not overbearing. The guy was slick, alright. Katja had already relaxed her guard.

The butler showed us around. The penthouse apartment was a triplex. The living room, kitchen, dining room, office, and heated saltwater pool were on the first floor. The second floor had two guest bedrooms, a gym, a home beauty salon, steam room, massage room, and music room. The third floor was devoted to an enormous master bedroom with walk-in closets, a dressing room, and a large balcony.

It was a lot to take in. The more we saw, the more worried Asteria looked. I couldn’t blame her. After all, the more splendid the gift, the more strings were attached.

What did Magnus Kraej want from Asteria that he would gift her an apartment this lavish?