Saffron pulled Xander inside, trying not to be too unsteady on her feet, and kept on pulling until they were in their bedroom, standing beside the beautiful canopy bed they shared. "Honey," she said, looking up at him steadily as she could, her hands resting at his waist to anchor her. "Alcuin's our friend, right? And he's lonely, and hurting. I can tell."

She paused to lean in, raising slightly up onto the balls of her feet to kiss him, which resulted in her clutching handfuls of his shirt at his sides so she didn't fall over. "I think we should help him," she said, and as she spoke, she glanced over at their bed.