Rehab for SuperVillains (18+)-Chapter 76: blazing

"Are you out of your fucking mind Kael?"

The Haven’s main door slammed shut behind Lightning Lass, her A-rank suit crackling faintly with static as she shoved Kael backward, her electric eyes blazing with a fury that caught him off guard.

The air in the room thickened, charged with her irritation, the faint hum of her power vibrating against the gray walls.

Kael stumbled, catching himself against the desk, his hazel eyes narrowing as he steadied his stance.

"What the hell’s wrong with you?" he asked, voice low but sharp, his usual smirk absent. Lightning Lass—Liss, wasn’t one for theatrics, not like this.

Her bluntness was her blade, but this anger felt personal, raw.

She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she flung a crumpled newspaper at him, the pages fluttering like a wounded bird before he snatched it mid-air.

The headline screamed in bold: "Fire Lantern: The Next S-Rank Hero?" Below it, a grainy photo captured Rhea—crimson hair wild, amber eyes fierce—mid-battle against a monstrous crocodile-lizard hybrid, its scales glinting under her conjured flames.

Crocky, the article called it, a A-rank beast she’d fought single-handedly.

Kael’s lips twitched, pride flickering in his chest.

Rhea—his Flame-Warden turned Flame-Lantern, his first success—had skyrocketed into the public eye faster than he’d anticipated.

That first day, he’d nudged Harris to tip off a few reporters, framing her debut as a reformed villain turned hero.

A calculated push, part of the rehab’s facade. But the second day’s coverage?

That was organic, the media latching onto her raw power, her potential, her story.

She was a star now, and he’d barely lifted a finger after that initial spark.

His plan was working—too well, judging by Liss’s scowl.

"Yes?" Kael said, folding the paper with calm, meeting her glare. "What about it?"

"She’s the fire bitch, right?" Liss snapped, her voice cutting like a whip. "Flame-Warden. The arsonist who torched half a block."

Kael nodded, unfazed. "Yeah. Rhea. Harris is helping craft her superhero identity—Fire Lantern. She’s changed, Liss. Genuinely."

Liss’s lips curled, a sneer that didn’t reach her eyes. "Changed? I don’t give a shit. Call her off."

Kael blinked, caught off guard again. "What?"

"Call. Her. Off," Liss repeated, each word a spark, her fists clenching, static snapping around her knuckles. "Stop this superhero gig of hers. Now."

Kael leaned back against the desk, arms crossing, his mind racing to parse her rage. "Why? She’s doing good out there. That’s the whole point of this place—turning villains into heroes. You knew that from the start didn’t you?."

Liss’s eyes flashed, and she took a step closer, her boots scuffing the gray tiles.

"Don’t play dumb, Kael. I don’t like it. She’s a villain—a murderer—playing hero, and now she’s stealing the spotlight like she’s earned it. S-rank buzz? After a few days? I’ve been grinding for years, clawing my way up, and this fire bitch waltzes in and gets it handed to her?"

The truth spilled out, bitter and unfiltered, her voice trembling with a mix of envy and betrayal. Kael’s gaze softened, but only for a moment—he saw the crack in her armor, the jealousy eating at her A-rank pride.

He chuckled, low an attempt to cut the tension and tell her the truth. "You’re worried about attention? Liss, come on. The media thing was a one-off. I had Harris pull strings that first day to sell her story—part of the rehab plan. The rest? Just reporters chasing a shiny new toy. It’ll fade."

Liss’s jaw tightened, her eyes searching his for a lie. "The first day was your stunt. Fine. But the second? It wasn’t you right? She’s climbing too fast, and I don’t trust it." ƒгeewёbnovel.com

He stayed silent, letting her stew. She wasn’t wrong—the second day’s coverage had been a surprise, Rhea’s raw talent drawing eyes he hadn’t planned for.

But admitting that would give Liss more ammunition, and he needed her on his side, not against him.

Instead, he shrugged, voice smooth. "You’re overthinking it. Harris and I have her on a leash—collars, check-ins, the works. She’s not slipping. And honestly, you don’t need to worry about her stealing your thunder. You’re Lightning Lass, A-rank, one step from S. Rhea’s just a small spark next to you."

Liss snorted, but the flattery landed, her shoulders easing a fraction.

She paced toward Rhea’s old room, her boots clicking against the tiles, and paused at the door.

The wood was splintered around the knob—marks from Rhea’s early days.

Liss’s nose wrinkled, catching the faint smoky scent still lingering inside, a ghost of Rhea’s fire.

"This where you kept her?" she asked, glancing back at Kael, her tone sharp but curious.

"Yeah," he said, stepping closer, hands in his pockets. "First villain, first room."

Liss’s lips quirked, a dark amusement flickering in her eyes.

"What kind of shady black magic did you pull to make her listen? I saw her, Kael—wild, spitting venom. Now she’s out there playing savior. What’d you do?"

Kael’s grin was slow, calculated, a hint of the glint she’d mentioned. "I showed her another way. That’s all."

Liss laughed, sharp and skeptical. "Another way? Please. When you pitched this rehab idea, I thought you were building a slave harem—chaining up villains to torture and fuck ’em into submission. That glint in your eyes? Didn’t scream ’noble savior.’"

Kael’s chuckle was low, a little forced, her words hitting closer than he liked.

"Why’s everyone think I’m some creep? I treat them well, Liss. Better than prison. Better than death row."

She raised a brow, stepping into Rhea’s room, her fingers trailing the splintered doorframe. "Don’t get me wrong—I’d have respected the torture angle. Villains deserve it." Her voice darkened, a cold edge cutting through. "But you? You’re softer than I thought."

Kael’s smile didn’t waver, but her words stung, a reminder of the line he walked—noble on the surface, something darker beneath.

He shifted gears, keeping the conversation on track. "Speaking of villains, what about the next shipment? Got anyone lined up?"

Liss’s eyes widened, her amusement vanishing. "Shipment? What about the icy bitch I sent last week? You done with her already?"

Kael nodded, casual but proud. "Freya. Past halfway. She’s... progressing."

Liss’s mouth dropped open, genuine shock breaking her composure.

"Progressing? That frosty psychopath? I figured she’d have you frozen solid by now."

She moved before he could stop her, striding toward Freya’s room, her boots echoing with purpose. "I gotta see this."

"Liss, wait—" Kael started, but she was already at the door, twisting the handle and shoving it open.

Inside, Freya stood, half-dressed, her platinum-cyan hair catching the dim light.

She’d pulled on her dark pants, the fabric hugging her toned thighs, but her torso was bare, her bra dangling from one hand as she froze mid-motion.

Her blue eyes snapped to Liss, narrowing into slits, a predator sizing up a rival. "You bitch," Freya said, voice low, venomous, at the same time Liss muttered, "Well, look at you, icy bitch."

Freya didn’t flinch or cover herself—didn’t scream or blush.

She stood tall, her near-translucent skin shimmering faintly, her breasts exposed but her posture radiating defiance. With

eerie calm, she slipped on her bra, fastening it as if Liss were beneath her notice.

The air crackled with tension, two queens in a silent standoff.

Liss slammed the door shut, whirling on Kael, her eyes blazing anew.

"You’re fucking them, aren’t you?" she asked, voice bold, accusing, no trace of doubt.

Kael shrugged, his smirk returning, deflecting with ease. "They’re adults. Things happen."

Liss stepped closer, her static aura prickling his skin.

"Don’t bullshit me, Kael. I saw her—Freya. She’s not the same. That cold, untouchable queen? She’s softer now, tamed. You’re not just rehabbing them—you’re breaking them."

Her voice dropped, a mix of disgust and grudging respect. "You planning to make her a superhero too? Another Fire Lantern?"

"If it goes well, yeah," Kael said, holding her gaze, unflinching. "That’s the deal—flip their sides, make them useful."

Liss’s lip curled, her irritation flaring again. "She’s clever, Kael. Too clever. If I were you, I’d keep her locked up, not parade her out there. Villains don’t change—they play you."

Kael tilted his head, voice steady but pointed.

"You’re too stuck on that, Liss. Villains can turn. Rhea’s proof. Freya’s getting there. You’ve seen enough to know people aren’t black-and-white."

She scoffed, brushing past him toward the exit, her suit’s faint hum trailing her. "I’ve seen enough villains to know better. They’re chaos, Kael, and you’re playing with fire—literally." She paused at the door, glancing back, her eyes hard. "Keep your bitches in line. I mean it."

The words landed like a warning, sharp.

Kael’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t bite back. Liss opened the door, then stopped, turning one last time. "And don’t expect more villains. I’m done."

Kael’s heart sank, voice steady. "Why? The money? I can double it if you want."

Liss shook her head, her expression unreadable. "It’s not the cash. The authorities are watching me—I am too close to get promoted for S-rank. I can’t risk any heat, not now." She smirked, a bitter edge to it. "Your little massage gig must be raking it in, huh? Kneading rich backs to fund this circus?"

Kael forced a grin, ignoring the jab. "It pays the bills."

She laughed, sharp and mocking. "Massage boy turned villain tamer. You’re a fucking character, Kael."

With a crackle of static, she leaped into the air, a bolt of lightning vanishing into the dusk, the thud of her departure echoing in the empty street.

Kael stood in the doorway, the newspaper still crumpled in his hand, Rhea’s face staring up at him.

His grin faded, replaced by a tight frown. Liss was trouble—jealous, volatile, and now a loose cannon.

She could derail everything, spill his secrets, or worse, come for Rhea herself.

And cutting off his villain supply? That gutted his pipeline, his plan. The Haven needed fresh chaos to thrive, to prove his vision.

He glanced at Freya’s door, then Rhea’s empty room.

One success and other half way, two transformations.

Liss’s warning rang in his ears: Keep your bitches in line. He’d tamed fire and ice, but Liss was a storm he couldn’t touch—not yet.