No. Way. In. Hell.
"If you're over your little pity party," I snapped, "maybe you'd like to get back to work."
Max's hurt expression wasn't helping his case any.
"Sydlynn-"
I cut him off with a firm punch to his shoulder. "I don't want to hear about it," I said. "We've come too far and been through too much together for you to quit on me now, you big lummox." Max straightened slowly, turned to face me. "I need you, no matter what you think of yourself, no matter what you've done in the past. A long freaking time ago, if I might add that little bit of fact to this ridiculous conversation." A frown creased his brow. "And, by the way, have you ever considered the fact maybe you were meant to crack magic wide open? Did Creator give you a hard time, dressing down, kick your butt when you did it?" He slowly shook his head. "No? Didn't think so. Because, I assume if you'd crossed her you'd be a smear on the floor, Max, and not leader of the first race of creation."