He saw it.
And that alone was enough to make her shut it down just as quickly.
Her expression hardened, her spine straightening as if physically bracing herself against the weight of his attention. Whatever had almost surfaced in that moment disappeared behind something far more familiar—control.
Cold. Steady. Untouchable.
“You’re out of line.” She does not raise her voice. Each word was precise, deliberate, meant to put distance back where he had just erased it.
Axel didn’t move.
Didn’t step back.
Didn’t break eye contact.
Harmony noticed. And it irritated her more than she wanted to admit. Her chin lifted slightly, not enough to be obvious, just enough to reestablish ground she refused to lose. “What happens here—” she continued, her tone sharpening just a fraction, “—is not your
