“You... don't have the spine!" he hissed with morbid, sadistic amusement.Unfortunately for him, it was mercy that I lacked, not a spine. I raised my swords high overhead. He stopped laughing when I had finished hacking off his head.”

“I take a few breaths to calm myself, step back, and lift Buttercup by the scruff of the neck. "I should've drowned you when I had the chance." His ears flatten and he raises a paw. I hiss before he gets a chance, which seems to annoy him a little, since he considers hissing his own personal sound of contempt.”

“When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours, and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine...you know you are loved.”

“You just ruined a perfectly delicious Danish!” I squawk at him.“Man,” he laughs, “note to self, don't mess with Elle’s pastries.”I scrape a giant hunk off my chin and smush it across his lips. He licks them and moans.“Oh man, that is seriously one amazing Danish.”“Now you understand.” I laugh at him. I wipe my face off and we finish our treats without wasting anymore.”

“His hand slid up my spine, bringing me closer, pinning my hands between us as I watched his neck bend.I had a feeling I knew where this was going."Max," I warned, my body bracing."Quiet," he ordered softly. "Got a point to make, honey.""Max!" I snapped."Let's see how good this could be," he muttered, his eyes on my mouth and I knew, I just knew, he was going to kiss me."Max, don't you-"But his fingers had sifted into my hair against my scalp cupping my head, holding me steady and his mouth came down on mine, cutting off my words.”

“He was a consummate politician-- which is to say he was given to expedient speech and lacked even a vestigial spine.”