Page 58 of Dragon Thief of New York

“It might have worked out for the best,” Midas says, clearly having overheard us. “But that doesn’t mean I’ll go easy on you.”

“Oh, don’t listen to him. He’s actually thrilled for you all.” Jeslyn shoves into the room just after her husband, a wide smile on her face.

Midas glares at her, but the heat behind the look doesn’t seem like anger.

“I’ll take whatever punishment you decide is fair,” Otto says, keeping his head down. “I know I messed up.”

“You didn’t just mess up. You broke one of our most sacred laws.” Midas stands behind his desk, looking down at the man I love.

I jump to my feet, positioning myself between them. “Hey, don’t look at him like that. He did me a favor and made the choice I couldn’t make. Sometimes people need a little push.”

Wow, did I change my tune! I never thought I’d be defending Otto’s decision, but honestly, I can’t be mad about it anymore. Not even if I tried.

Midas narrows his eyes before returning his attention to Otto. “Damian,” he says, eyes locked on my younger mate instead of the man he’s addressing. “This punishment is yours. Otto stole from you. He broke trust with the horde. He took away your mate’s consent. How will you punish him?”

“Me?” Damian looks around the room, clearly confused by Midas deferring to him.

“Yes, you.”

Damian’s quiet for a moment. He stares at his hand still resting on Otto’s shoulder. “All I want is to thank him,” he whispers, barely loud enough to hear. “I just want to thank him.”

“So do I.” Moving to Damian’s side, I place my hand on Otto’s other shoulder.

Midas shakes his head and sinks into the chair behind his desk. “He can’t be rewarded for this. I have to set an example, otherwise dragons will start stealing away their mates left and right, and humans will lose their right to choose. Is that what you want?”

“No, of course not,” Damian says.

Otto and I both shake our heads.

“I have an idea.” Jeslyn raises her hand with a smirk.

“Yes?” Midas lifts his eyebrows, lips fighting a twitch at the corners.

“Maybe instead of a punishment,” she looks at Damian, “or a reward, what about a penance?”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Well, as a payment for what you did, Otto, you’ll have to serve the horde in any capacity we see fit for the next hundred years.” She gets a devious smile. “You can start with babysitting Athena tonight.”

“Oh, I like this idea.” Midas pulls his wife to his side, draping an arm over her shoulder. “We’ll be back before sunrise.”

Jeslyn tosses Otto the baby monitor as they stroll out of the room, and the three of us are left to process what just happened.

“How bad do you think this is gonna be?” Otto asks.

Damian shrugs. “It could be worse.”

Otto turns around, kneeling on his chair so he can look at me. “I’d pay any penance, survive any punishment, do anything to have you, beauty. You’re mine. And I’d steal you off that New York street again in a heartbeat.”

“You really don’t sound at all contrite.” I lift my eyebrows and try to glare at him.

“I’m not.” He smirks back.

“Maybe we need to dole out some more of our own punishment,” Damian suggests. He grabs Otto’s hair and pulls hard. Otto moans, melting at the aggressive touch.

Just then, crying crackles through the baby monitor, interrupting us.

“Guess we’ll have to put a pin in this.” Otto stands up and salutes us. “Duty calls.”

When Otto leaves the room, Damian draws me into his arms. We’re silent, neither of us needing to speak to know the gratitude we’re both feeling for the impulsive thief who brought us together and made us a family.

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