MAEVE'S POV
"Maeve, stop! What are you doing? This is good. I understand you want them away from each other, but let him spend some time with the boy. It buys us a place in his heart. Everything is working in our favor."
I whirled on her. "It isn't good. None of this is good! You know damn well why Asha can't form an attachment with Ivan. This is getting out of control!"
"But it serves the plan. None of this would matter when Devon takes over," she insisted, her grip pressing down like iron.
"No!" I ripped free, chest heaving. "This plan—you call it a plan, but I call it chains! I'm done, Nina. Once I get Asha, we're leaving Ash Creek. Do you hear me? I don't care about Devon's plan, I don't care about the crown. It isn't worth it. None of this is."
Her face darkened, lips twisting. "Not worth it? After everything Devon has built? After everything Devon has put in place? After everything I've risked to get us here?"
