Page 8 of Tempered By Flames

“Exactly. My mother is especially worried. She doesn’t mind me being a firefighter since I’m a dragon shifter, but she worries about the rest of the team, other shifters, and everything, really.”

Ethan hummed. He didn’t ask Liam how he got the burn scar. Liam was a dragon shifter, so he shouldn’t have it. It had happened when he was very young, though. Maybe that was when the universe had decided that he should be a firefighter.

“Anyway, convincing her and the others to let me go wasn’t easy.”

“Are they still worried now that you’ve met your team?”

Liam grimaced. “Dragon shifters have a reputation, even amongst other dragon shifters. Mom’s really worried about Austin and West.”

“She doesn’t have to be. They’re good people.”

“I think they are, but she doesn’t know them. I think it’s going to take a little while for her to calm down and accept the idea that no matter how much I love her, I’m never going to have the same life she and my father have.”

“What kind of life is that?”

“Small. Closed off. They’re happy living in the clan house, surrounded by people they’ve known their whole life, doing the same thing every day. I guess it has its appeal, but I want more.”

“Is that why you escaped to the forest?”

Liam shrugged. “Yeah. In that house, you’re never alone. Going into the forest was the only way for me to be truly alone. The forest was my refuge and the place where I dreamed about what my life would be like one day.”

“Did you think you were going to be a firefighter?”

“Not quite. I like it, though. I want to help people, and since I’m a dragon shifter, it makes sense.”

“I suppose it does. But not all dragon shifters want to be firefighters.”

“I don’t think it’s about the firefighter thing specifically. It’s about being allowed to be what I want and having the opportunity to spread my wings, both literally and figuratively. As much as I love my family, staying with the clan would be too suffocating. I need space, even though I’ve never had it in my life.”

“Maybe that’s why you needed it so badly.”

“I don’t know. Maybe. It’s hard to feel like I’m not betraying them, though.”

“Is that what they told you? That you’re betraying them?”

“No. Once I convinced them, everyone was incredibly supportive, even my parents, and I knew they were worried. I don’t blame them. With how isolated they are, this world is unknown to them. They want things to continue that way, but it’s impossible for them to ignore all of that when I’m out here.”

“There has to be a compromise there.”

Liam smiled. “There is. I visit as often as I can. It’s a bit more complicated now with my shifts, but we’ll make it work. I know that they worry so much because they love me, and I didn’t leave them. I left the clan and the house.”

“It is where they live, though.”

“But it’s not where I live, not anymore. I don’t know if I’m happy yet. Maybe I’ll change my mind and go back, but I don’t think so. I truly feel like I did the right thing.” He just hoped life wouldn’t show him otherwise. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if this firefighter thing didn’t work out. He’d always be welcome with his clan, but he couldn’t imagine going back to living there.

A soft touch on his shoulder startled him. He jerked forward, and the touch vanished immediately. Liam sucked in a breath. He wasn’t sure what Ethan had been doing, but it had to have something to do with the tattoo. “It’s okay,” he said. “You just surprised me.”

“I just wanted to check the scar. I need to know where it’s the thickest.”

“Do whatever you need to do.” If it meant having Ethan’s hands on him, Liam would be happy.

He held his breath while Ethan gently touched him. He couldn’t feel much everywhere on his scar, but the spots where he could felt like they were on fire again.

Well, Liam didn’t remember what had happened. He’d been too young, and he was grateful for that. Now that he’d gone through the academy, though, he could too easily imagine it. Ethan’s touch wasn’t that kind of fire, but that didn’t mean it didn’t make Liam burn. It was just in a very different way.

Ethan cleared his throat. “Well, tattooing over the scar shouldn’t be a problem. I have a few sketches that you can take a look at if you want. They’re very rough because I want your approval before I start drawing the real thing, but here.”

Liam took the offered sketchpad. He hadn’t been specific when he’d mentioned a forest, so Ethan had come up with different kinds of trees. His work was beautiful, and Liam couldn’t believe he’d carry Ethan’s art on his skin for the rest of his life. Just that would make everything worth it.