Chapter 15
Back home
"Talia, breakfast time." Owen called through the door.
"I don't wanna." I mumbled.
"Talia, you're still in trouble." He reminded me.
"I should've ordered in." I groaned.
I got dressed and opened the door. I waited for Owen to start leading to the dining room, but he didn't. I looked at him and was suddenly scooped up and nuzzled the fuck out of.
"D- Owen, what if someone sees?" I whispered.
"Everyone knows that this is hall leads to your bedroom and Mister Xanatos left a blind spot in the cameras so you wouldn't feel anxious. And do not call me by name when we are alone. I am your father." He warned.
"Yes, Daddy." I intoned.
"That's my good girl." He kissed my cheek.
"You're supposed to be stoic." I said.
"I'm still capable of the full range of human emotions, Tai." He rested his forehead on mine.
"I can see that." I smiled.
"I was so angry when you were gone. I wanted you back so badly." He said softly.
"I'm back now." I nuzzled his neck.
"Yes, you are. And you're not going anywhere." He smiled. "My daughter is home." He said simply, kissing me again.
"Are you done?" I asked.
"You put me through hell, little trickster. I won't stop until you realize how precious you are. And you are very precious to me." He smiled with hint of Puck-ish charm.
"Put me down, O- Dad. People will ask questions if you're the one who's showering me with affection." I told him.
"They're already talking." He put me down and we went to the dining room.
"There you are. I was started to get worried." Fox smiled, feeding Alex from a bottle.
"Unexpected father daughter time." David smiled.
I sat down and wondered if I should start eating. I decided to fuck it and ate the pancakes in front of me.
"Talia. We've discussed your punishment. And we've decided you're grounded for 6 months. No TV, no phone, no Internet. You don't get go flying with the clan. You can still visit them, but that's it. Puck insisted your magic lessons were necessary." David told me.
"Do I still get go outside?" I asked.
"The castle is fine, but anywhere else you have be one of us or Elisa." He said.
"And no shapeshifting without Puck's guidance." Owen chimed in.
"Yay!" I sighed sarcastically.
"Talia?" Fox asked.
"Yeah?" I looked at her.
"How did you get to the West Coast?" She asked.
"How'd you know that?" I frowned.
"You have a little accent." She pointed out.
"Oh. Hitchhiking." I paused. "And magic."
"Talia." Owen hummed dangerously.
"I didn't whore myself out if that's what you're worried about. I just…" I stuck some food in my mouth.
"What did you do?" He hissed.
"I put in them in an illusion." I answered.
"That is dangerous! You are inexperienced!" He shouted.
"Dad…" I swallowed.
"I did not save you for you to cast lewd illusions on strange men!" He was furious.
"Then you shouldn't have saved me! You just came out of nowhere like a creep." I shouted.
"Do not talk to me like that!" Owen fumed.
"Then you left me with David and Fox! Only the best for your little miracle, right? Or maybe sin of nature is a better term." I hissed.
"You are my daughter, Talia!" He yelled.
"I hate you! I hate you all!" I felt my eyes burn with magic.
"Talia, go to your room!" David demanded.
"Fine!" I stormed off.
Talia's POV End
Owen's POV
I ran my hand through my hair and growled.
"Owen?" Xanatos asked.
"Talia used her magic to pleasure men." I gritted my teeth. "She drained her magic to please them."
"She was using them." He pointed out.
"To run away from us." I shot back.
"It's your decision." Xanatos told me.
"I have to think about it." I answered.
"Alright." He left.
I had to damage control. Magic whirled around me.
Owen's POV End
Talia's POV
I calmed down after some time in my room. He was right to worry about using my magic like that. I went out and tried to find him. He found me first.
"Dad, I'm sorry." I apologized.
"Talia, what you did is something I'll never forgive myself for." He told me.
"I let them control the illusion mostly. Just kinda skimmed for their wants and gave it to them." I shrugged.
"You shouldn't have even been in that situation. Tricking people isn't fun when you get hurt in the process." He knelt and pulled me into a hug.
I let myself hug back and I closed my eyes.
"Talia, I care about you and don't want to see you hurt. You're very important to me." He whispered.
"I know." I said.
"I missed you." He brushed my hair back, looking at me now.
"I didn't want to be gone forever." I smiled sadly.
"I know, Sweetheart." He kissed my forehead and stood up. "Time for a piano lesson."
"But Daddy…" I frowned.
"You're been gone for two months. It's time to get back into our routine." He said in his normal voice.
I huffed.
"Talia, please." His voice softened a bit.
I followed him to the music room.
Talia's POV End
Owen's POV
I finished Talia's lesson and went to the break room. I wouldn't dare eat his food during business hours, no matter what he told me. Margret, an accountant in my area, was eating a late lunch.
"Hello." I greeted her.
"It's so nice to have you back to normal. You had us worried." Margret said.
"I apologize for letting my emotions affect the work space." I told her.
"I would be upset too if my child went missing." She said sympathetically.
"S-she's Xanatos's daughter." I looked at her.
"Oh, Sweetie. It's obvious you have a soft spot for her. Does Xanatos know? You wouldn't want him to get the wrong idea." She asked me.
"He knows." I answered.
"Good. That poor girl needs a father." She smiled.
"Margret, what are people saying about the last two months?" I asked.
"Some people think you lost your lover. Others say you finally had enough of Xanatos. Not very many people believe that you were affected by Talia's disappearance." She took a bite of her salad.
"And why do you believe she was gone?" I pressed.
"You started going back to your normal work schedule. No more homeschooling Talia because she ran away. Ever since a little before Alex was born, you've been smiling to yourself after you come back from her lessons. There's no shame in a little pride for her." She grinned.
"You're very perspective, Mrs. Raina." I said.
"It comes with having five kids." She said dismissively. "Owen, you don't have to worry. I won't blab about your relationship with Talia. I know you're a private person."
"Thank you." I said as calmly as I could and took my coffee to my office.
I called Xanatos and he picked up. "Yeah?"
"Margret Raina, from accounting, figured out that Talia went missing. And she figured out that I care for Talia as my daughter." I said.
"How?" He asked.
"Apparently, she has had an eye on my routine and behavior for awhile now." I said.
"Watching the quiet one, huh?" He mused.
"Mister Xanatos, this is serious." I frowned.
"I just watched the footage. 10,000,000 should be enough, don't you think?" He asked.
"When was her last promotion?" I thought.
"A couple years ago." He answered.
"That should be enough." I said.
"Welcome to fatherhood, Owen." He laughed and hung up.
I huffed and shook my head. Talia was worth it. She was worth giving up Avalon for.
Owen's POV End
