Page 3 of Tempered By Flames

Liam wished he could have his captain’s certainty, but he couldn’t. He’d had a hard time integrating at the academy. In fact, he hadn’t integrated at all. He hadn’t made friends there, only acquaintances, and he was pretty sure he’d never talk to any of them again now that he was done. Maybe he’d see them around town on calls, but he’d be surprised if most of them even recognized him. He was awkward, to say the least, when it came to social situations, something he suspected stemmed from the way he’d been raised, but he wasn’t here to socialize. He was here to work.

He gave Captain Grant a tight smile. “Of course.”

“Come on. I’ll take you to the locker room, and once you’re changed, I’ll give you a tour.”

Part of Liam hoped that the alarm would go off so he didn’t have to go through that, but Captain Grant was nice. He was trying to make Liam feel welcome, which was more than Liam could say about most people. It wasn’t going to kill him to go along with it and allow the captain to give him the tour. Besides, he needed to know where everything was, didn’t he?

He was quick to change, but he took a few moments in the bathroom to breathe. So far, so good.

Captain Grant was waiting for him outside, looking like he didn’t have anything better to do, even though he was a captain. Liam was surprised that he hadn’t asked anyone else to give him the tour, but he was grateful. He only knew the captain, so he was glad that he wouldn’t have to follow around a stranger for twenty minutes. Of course, these people wouldn’t stay strangers for much longer, but still. This would be less awkward.

“The team is upstairs working on lunch, so we’ll be able to sit down and eat after we’re done with the tour,” Captain Grant said. “They’re excited to meet you.”

Liam was pretty sure that wasn’t the case, but he nodded anyway. To these people, he’d feel like an intruder, at least initially. He was determined to show them that he could do the job, though. He was a good firefighter. They wouldn’t know about his little secret and maybe it’s unfair advantage, but he didn’t think it mattered. It would help him save lives, which was why he was here.

The tour was brief but exhaustive, and by the time Liam got upstairs, he’d been told to call Captain Grant Taylor, often enough that he’d have to remember it. It made him a little nervous, but Captain Grant—Taylor—insisted on the fact that they were a family, and he didn’t want Liam to call him by his title. It felt odd in Liam’s mouth, but he’d get used to it. He would have to.

When they got upstairs, five people were there. Two of them were on the couch, playing a video game, while the other two were in the kitchen. The woman from earlier was beating the guy she was playing against pretty badly, and she was cackling and clearly enjoying herself. The two guys in the kitchen were still working on lunch, but they kept glancing at her and grinning.

“Everyone, this is Liam, our new recruit,” Taylor announced. “Liam, this is everyone. On the couch, you have Lisa and Jeremy, while the two in the kitchen are West and Austin.”

Liam felt like an idiot as he gave a little wave. It wasn’t as if he was going to go up to each of these people to shake their hands, but Lisa and Jeremy didn’t look like they were about to get up from the couch anytime soon. Austin did put down his spoon and come toward Liam, though, which was a relief.

Until he got to Liam, and Liam got a sniff of him. His senses went on high alert.

He hadn’t expected to find a dragon shifter here.

Austin’s eyebrows shot up, so clearly, he felt the same. He looked back at West, who was watching them, and tilted his chin. Liam had no idea what that meant, but he didn’t like it.

“Well, I have some paperwork to do in the office,” Taylor declared. “Only call if you need me or if food is ready,” he told Liam. “And I mean that. Also, don’t let any of these guys intimidate you. I promise they’re as nice as kittens.”

Austin snorted. “Me, a kitten?”

“It’s your face,” Taylor said before walking away.

He was leaving Liam with a dragon shifter. Liam’s heart was racing in his chest, and he tried to tell himself that his mother wasn’t always right. Even though every dragon shifter he’d ever met was a clan member, it didn’t mean that the other ones were bad people. Austin couldn’t be. He was a firefighter. He helped people. It looked like Liam had had the same idea as him, so maybe Liam would be able to pick his brain or something.

“So, Liam,” Austin started.

West was coming toward them, holding a kitchen towel. He was frowning, which didn’t bode well. Liam hadn’t done anything, though, so he stood his ground and waited.

His stomach dropped when West’s step faltered as he got closer. The man looked at Austin, then back at Liam, and took a sniff. Liam didn’t have to do the same to know what was going on. Apparently, Austin wasn’t the only dragon shifter who worked here.

What were the odds? Liam had been looking for a good station and a good team. He wanted to do his job and make a difference. He wanted to help people. He’d thought he would be the only dragon shifter here, but he’d been incredibly wrong. No, he was the third dragon shifter here, and he had no idea if the other two guys were going to be territorial. If they were, he wouldn’t have a choice. He’d have to leave and find a way to explain himself to Captain Grant, something he wasn’t looking forward to. He liked the man, even though he barely knew him.

He swallowed. He’d graduated from the academy. Captain Grant had offered him a spot on his team. He had every right to be here, just like Austin and West did. Whatever they thought about his presence, they’d have to deal with it because he wasn’t going anywhere.

* * * *

ETHAN WAS IN THE BREAKROOM again when West walked in. He didn’t announce himself, just walked in as if he belonged there, and in a way, he did. He’d become a regular visitor since he and Jonathan had started dating, so it was never a surprise to see him. It was a surprise to see him so agitated, though, and Ethan sighed, wondering what the fuck was happening now. He really hoped it was a normal kind of problem and not an ex-boyfriend from hell or arson. He’d had enough of those to last him a lifetime, and he wasn’t even involved in either of them.

“Hey,” Jonathan said, smiling up at his boyfriend from where he was sitting. He’d been drawing, but he quickly put down his pad and pencil and leaned closer. West didn’t hesitate to meet him halfway and kiss him, and Ethan looked away. He was happy for his friend, really, he was, but he was also jealous. He’d rather not have to watch Jonathan and West suck face.

He was about to get to his feet and head out when West dropped onto one of the empty chairs with a heavy sigh. That got Jonathan’s attention right away, and since Ethan was curious, he decided to stick around for a bit and see what was going on. If the two didn’t want him to hear, they’d tell him to leave, but instead of doing that, West nodded at Ethan in acknowledgment.

“What’s going on?” Jonathan asked.

“There’s a new guy at work.”