Rehab for SuperVillains (18+)-Chapter 99: like a wild dog

The kitchen hummed with the sizzle of eggs frying in a pan, their yolk-heavy scent mingling with the faint tang of coffee.

Freya stood at the stove, her hair loose, catching the morning light filtering through windows, her cyan t-shirt snug against her curves, navy blue pants shifted as she flipped the eggs with a flick.

Kael stepped in, a faint flush lingering on his face. He leaned against the counter, the creak of the floorboards under his boots blending with the pan’s hiss.

"Rhea woke up fine?" Freya asked, her voice teasing but edged with curiosity, glancing over her shoulder, her blue eyes narrowing. "Not like a wild dog, tearing the place apart?"

Kael’s grin was wry, his hazel eyes glinting with amusement as he stepped closer, his hand darting out to deliver a playful slap to Freya’s ass.

Slap!

The sound a sharp crack in the quiet kitchen.

"Yeah, she’s fine," he said, his voice low, warm. "More than fine, actually."

Freya’s grin flashed, quick and wicked, and she turned, rising on her toes to press a soft kiss to his cheek, her lips warm, her breath a tickle against his skin.

"You look horny, Kael," she said, her voice a playful purr, her blue eyes dancing with mischief. "What happened in there?"

Kael’s brow arched, a chuckle escaping, his hand brushing the back of his neck. "How’d you know?" he asked, his tone half-curious, half-defensive.

Freya’s smile widened, her gaze flicking downward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Your brother told me," she said, nodding toward his jeans, where a telltale bulge strained against the fabric, betraying his lingering arousal.

Kael glanced down, a flush creeping up his neck, his grin sheepish but unapologetic.

"Had to help Rhea release some... tension," he said, his voice low, a hint of pride in his tone, the memory of Rhea’s bound form and trembling release still vivid.

Freya’s eyes flicked back to the stove, her grin fading to a neutral curve, her fingers tightening on the spatula.

"Arrange the plates on the table," she said, her voice cool, a subtle shift, her focus returning to the eggs, their edges crisping in the pan.

Kael nodded, sensing the unspoken tension, and moved to the dining table.

He set out three plates, the clink of ceramic steadying his thoughts, his hazel eyes drifting to the hallway, where the faint sound of running water signaled Rhea’s shower.

Rhea emerged minutes later, her fiery red hair damp, clinging to her shoulders, her athletic frame wrapped in a loose red tank top and black shorts, the collar around her neck humming faintly, restraining her powers.

Her wounds were gone, her energy vibrant but shadowed by a flicker of unease.

She sank into a chair opposite Kael and Freya, who hadn’t started eating, the eggs and toast now steaming on the table, a cheap but hearty breakfast.

"So, what’s the news?" Rhea asked, her voice sharp, her eyes glimmering with curiosity, cutting through the kitchen’s warmth.

Kael leaned forward, his hazel eyes steady, his voice calm but heavy.

"Harris disbanded the team after yesterday," he said, his words measured. "He’s not coming to pick you up today, Rhea. It’s over."

Rhea’s eyes widened, her chair scraping as she shot to her feet, panic flashing across her face.

"What?" she exclaimed, her voice rising, her hands gripping the table’s edge. "But I’m still here! I’m fine!" Her gaze darted between Kael and Freya, her breath quickening, her fiery spirit flaring despite the collar’s restraint.

"I can fight again—tell Harris I’ll take those Haunter Twins down alone. I know their moves now!"

"Calm down, Rhea," Kael said, his voice firm, his hand raised, his hazel eyes locking on hers. "It’s not about you."

"But—but—but—" Rhea stammered, her voice trembling, her hands clenching, her desperation palpable, the superhero life she’d just embraced slipping away.

Kael’s tone softened, but his words carried weight. "Harris disbanded the team because your teammates are in critical condition," he said, his voice low, steady. "They’re fighting for their lives, Rhea. It wasn’t just you out there."

Rhea’s shoulders slumped, her eyes downcast, her fiery energy draining as she sank back into her chair, dejection settling over her like a heavy cloak. Her voice was quiet, haunted, as she spoke, her gaze fixed on the table.

"You’re right," she said, her words slow, heavy.

"The hairy girl—her head was shaved, her bones broken and her limbs were bent weird. The lizard guy’s limbs and tail were chopped, his teeth shattered. The spandex guy... they dropped him from a forty-story building, smashed him into the ground."

She swallowed, her voice breaking, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears.

"Harris jumped in, fought with me. We barely got out. The twins followed, but when reinforcements came, they vanished into the shadows." She paused, her breath shaky. "My wounds? Paper cuts compared to that."

Kael’s face paled, his hazel eyes wide, horror creeping into his expression, the battlefield’s brutality a stark reminder of why he’d quit being a superhero.

His hands tightened on the table, relief mingling with dread—he’d escaped that life, but Rhea hadn’t, not yet.

Freya, her fork poised over her eggs, remained unflinched, her blue eyes cold, her lips curling into a faint, mocking smile.

"Weak," she said, her voice sharp, cutting through the heavy silence, aimed at Rhea like a dart.

Rhea’s head snapped up, her eyes blazing, a glare sharp enough to cut, but her sadness weighed her down, her voice low, fierce.

"They would’ve done the same to you," she said, her words a quiet challenge. "The twins were strong—stronger than they looked. One was a psychopath, tearing through us like we were nothing and her laugh, fucking mental."

Freya’s smile didn’t waver, her voice icy, unyielding.

"No. You’re weak," she said, her blue eyes locked on Rhea’s, her tone dripping with disdain—her words a cruel edge.

Rhea’s glare intensified, her hands clenching, the collar’s hum a faint barrier to her rising heat. Kael’s hazel eyes flicked to Freya, hard, a silent command to back off.

"Read the room, Freya," he said, his voice low, stern, his glare cutting through her mockery.

Freya shrugged, her expression unchanged, and took a bite of her toast, chewing with her lips closed, her blue eyes drifting to her plate.

Kael turned back to Rhea, his voice softening, a spark of hope in his tone.

"Here is the main news Rhea... I’m starting my own superhero team," he said, his hazel eyes steady, "Will you join it, Rhea?"