Hyacinthe groaned and pushed away, sliding out of her. But she barely had a moment to regret his distance before he was pulling her to him, wrapping her in his arms and clasping her to his chest. "You are my friend, Xanthippe. Before anything else and after it, too. Even did I never get a chance to taste you again - and my life would be poorer for it - you would be important to me."