They walked to the dining table where Freya waited, her platinum-cyan hair catching the light, her blue eyes narrowing as they approached.
The plates were set, steam rising from the food—grilled meat, roasted vegetables, a faint spice in the air.
Freya’s face was stern, her lips a tight line, but her gaze flicked between them, catching the flush on Rhea’s cheeks, the smug edge to her smirk.
"The dinner looks so delicious," Kael said, sliding into the chair beside Freya, his voice light, trying to cut the tension.
"Right, Rhea?" He glanced at her, but Rhea just stared at her plate, her amber eyes suspicious, her fork hovering over the food.
"Let’s dig in," Kael said, picking up his fork, but Rhea’s voice cut through, sharp and accusing. "She spit in it."
Kael froze, his fork halfway to his mouth, his hazel eyes snapping to her. "What?"
Freya’s gaze hardened, her voice calm but edged with irritation. "No, I didn’t."
"Then why’s it wet?" Rhea shot back, leaning forward, her amber eyes boring into Freya’s, her scarred hands gripping the table.
Freya shrugged, her tone dismissive. "Some water might’ve splashed when I was serving. I’m a good cook, Rhea. I know the value of food. I’d never do something that disgusting."
Rhea’s lips curled, doubtful, her eyes narrowing. "It’s weird. My gut says you did something."
Freya leaned back, her blue eyes glinting with a taunt. "Believe what you want. I don’t care. I may have spit on your food, or maybe not. Or, Maybe I spit on your chair instead." Her voice was cool, mocking, and Rhea’s reaction was instant—she shot up, rubbing her shorts, her face twisting in disgust.
"Eww!" she yelped, yanking them off, standing in her panties, and hurling the shorts at Freya’s face.
Freya acted fast, she threw her fork like a ninja star, it flew, pinning the shorts mid-air, sending them whipping back toward Rhea.
Rhea dodged, the fabric grazing her shoulder, hitting the wall with a soft thud.
The air crackled, Freya’s ice and Rhea’s suppressed fire itching to flare, but Kael’s voice boomed, sharp and final. "Enough!"
Both women froze, their eyes snapping to him. His hazel gaze was hard, his jaw tight.
"Sit down, both of you. Eat. Now." His tone left no room for argument, and slowly, Rhea sank back into her chair, her panties flashing briefly before she crossed her legs, her amber eyes still smoldering.
Freya’s lips twitched, a faint smirk.
The table fell silent, the clink of forks against plates the only sound, the tension simmering but held at bay.
Rhea’s amber eyes glinted with a smug satisfaction, her mind replaying the moment behind the door—her moans, raw and unrestrained, as Kael fucked her against the door.
She knew Freya had heard every sound, every gasp, every moan, she was loud on purpose, and the thought of Freya’s face twisting with jealousy sparked a wicked smirk on Rhea’s lips.
She leaned back in her chair, her crimson hair catching the light, and locked eyes with Freya.
Freya’s smirk faltered, her platinum-cyan hair framing a face that shifted from smug to stern.
Her blue eyes narrowed, catching the taunt in Rhea’s gaze—she knew exactly what Rhea was gloating about.
The air between them crackled, a silent challenge, their powers leashed by collars but their wills clashing like fire and ice.
Kael caught the exchange, his hazel eyes flicking between them, a faint sigh escaping his lips.
He set his fork down, his plate nearly empty, and leaned forward, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
"Alright, enough. We’re not waiting for dessert to talk business." His tone was firm, his gaze steady, pulling their attention to him.
"We’ve got a mission—your first as a team. Let’s focus." Rhea’s smirk lingered, but she straightened, her curiosity piqued.
Freya crossed her arms, her stern expression softening slightly, though her eyes still flicked to Rhea with a hint of irritation.
Kael pushed his plate aside, his hands resting on the table, his voice taking on a commanding edge.
"The Department of Superhuman Affairs gave us our entry test. It’s a cleanup job in the sewers at 47th and Pike. They’re infested with rats—mutated, aggressive, and breeding out of control. Your job is to clear them out and kill their queen to stop the spread."
Freya’s lips twitched, a mocking glint in her blue eyes as she turned to Rhea.
"Oh, Rhea, will you be fine killing your people?"
Rhea’s amber eyes flashed, her smirk sharpening into a grin. "Only if you lead the way, Freya. I hear rats follow their queen."
The air crackled again, the table practically vibrating with their barely restrained animosity.
Kael’s hand slammed down, not hard, but enough to make the plates rattle.
"Cut it out, both of you," he snapped, his hazel eyes hard, his voice leaving no room for argument.
"Focus. This isn’t a game. Those rats are weak individually, but there’s hundreds—maybe thousands. They’ll swarm you, and they don’t stop. Endurance is key. You two have to watch each other’s backs. If one of you goes down, the other’s screwed. And you better not hit each other by mistake. Friendly fire isn’t an option."
Freya leaned back, her tone dry but pointed as she glanced at Rhea. "Guess you should wear something that sticks out like a sore thumb, Rhea, something like a giant burger on your head. Wouldn’t want to mix you up with your... people."
Rhea’s grin didn’t waver, her voice smooth and cutting. "You’re right, Freya. It’ll be easier for them if I stand out—less confusion so they know who to run away from."
Kael’s brow arched, a flicker of amusement crossing his face.
He caught Rhea’s eye and gave her a subtle thumbs-up, a silent nod to her sharp retort.
Rhea’s smirk widened, her eyes gleaming with triumph as she shot Freya a smug look.
Freya’s jaw tightened, her blue eyes narrowing, but she said nothing, her silence a grudging concession.
"Anyway," Kael continued, his voice pulling them back, "I’ll be on comms the whole time. You two handle the sewers, report everything you see—numbers, patterns, anything off. No heroics, no showing off. Just get it done."
He leaned back, his dinner finished, his hazel eyes scanning them both.
"Questions?"