“Put me down, this is embarrassing.” Taura muttered into Sehun’s neck as he carried her in his arms through the palace halls. She was light in his arms and her bones stuck out from her translucent skin. He held the girl close to his chest and felt her body fidget around, trying to loosen his grip around her. His lips curled up at the corners as he locked his grip around her to stop her movement.

“I will when we get to the dining room, sweetheart but for now I’m not letting you go.” To prove his point, Sehun tightened his grip around Taura’s legs and waist, causing Taura to gasp. His finger tips were rough but warm and made her skin tingle.

“I hate you.” She whispered into his neck, tugging at the short hair on the back of his head. Her eyes closed, lulled by the sweet musk of salt and chlorine that radiated from the siren’s skin.

Sehun sighed looking down at the girl, his chin brushing the top of her head, letting his thumb gently caress her arm, “You know how I feel already.”

Taura opened her eyes, feeling his pink lips graze the top of her forehead. She could feel the gentle puffs of his breath caress her and leaned into him.

The rest of the walk to the dining room was quiet but the rowdy laughter and muffled clink of glasses filled the space for them. The doors to the dining hall opened with a bang as a group of sailors spilled out. Their eyes wandered down the hall to the approaching prince and princess, “Taura!”

Chen and Baekhyun bounded down the hall to the girl, immediately taking her into their arms. They swept her off her frail feet and swung her around, constantly kissing her temple and forehead, “You’re okay! You’re alive! You’re still beautiful as always!”

She clung to Chen’s neck as Baekhyun came behind her to sandwich her into a hug so warm and loving, she began to choke back tears. Suho, Lay, and Xiumin were the next to hug and greet the girl. They praised her and showered her with the same amount of love that the other boys had given her. She blushed at their chaste kisses and sweet caresses to her head and cheek. Her tears finally spilt from her eyes when they all gathered around her for a hug as they cheered for her recovery.

Sehun waited in the wings to catch the girl once the group separated. She fell into his embrace just like she did the second time she met him in the entry way of Kyungsoo’s kitchen. Her gaze traveled up from the buttons on his white shirt to his Adam’s apple and finally to his eyes that were no longer so cold. He picked her up in his arms and walked into the dining hall, whispering into her ear, “There’s one more person whose been waiting to see you.”

His eyes directed Taura’s attention to the yo