I woke feeling rested for the first time in centuries. 

With nothing to do for so long, I hadn't exactly slept. Life had felt more like a constant daydream, neither waking nor sleeping. But after defending Simon, I actually slept, and when I woke, my mind immediately turned to him.

He was talking to his brother, the Alpha, about me. Convenient. Perhaps my name on his lips is what had finally awoken me. How long had I slept? Hours? Days? Longer? It wasn't out of the realm of possibility for me to have slept for a year or more without realizing it. I let my touch on his mind remain light—I wasn't spying intentionally, but I didn't want to startle Simon.

"How much did you tell them about the incident?" Simon shifted uncomfortably in his seat. It wasn't the couch he perched on that was the problem—I could tell it was quite comfortable. Perhaps I'd just become too used to the hard comfort of ice that anything else seemed luxury, but Simon's discomfort seemed to originate more from a nebulous feeling in his gut than anything physical. 

Asher set aside a sheaf of papers to look at his brother. "Did I leave out the part about some being claiming to be a dragon possessing your body, you mean?"

Ah, that was definitely it. Who was it that Simon was worried about learning about me? He was wise to be cautious: conduits were about as well accepted as seers. That is to say, some people nearly worshiped them, while others reviled them. It was a dangerous position either way. I cursed the circumstances that had prevented me from explaining everything to him.

"I'm not a freak," Simon said defiantly.

"Did I ever say you were?" Asher's voice was steady. That was a good quality for any leader, and the man had my tentative approval and respect. 

"Not you." Simon stood to pace, the tension coiling his muscles as if he were ready to pounce on the first thing that moved. "But I don't want to become some kind of experiment or anything. I haven't sensed any hint of the dragon since the fight."

Was that... a hint of disappointment? That was encouraging, especially given Simon's concerns about the issues our bond might cause him. Who was it that he was worried about? No matter. A swell of protective instinct rose over me, and Simon stopped suddenly. He was my conduit. I would not leave him unprotected... unless I couldn't help it. 

Ryeth? His voice was... cautious. Hopeful.

I am here. I had left him unprotected, though, hadn't I? I doubted anything less than a direct attack would have woken me, and even then, I wasn't certain. 

"Is that the dragon?" Asher's voice had suddenly turned harsh, and as I looked out of Simon's eyes, I noted his harsh mask. I doubted it had been there before he became aware of my presence. 

Simon hesitated.

Tell him the truth, I urged. I could see the bright, thick bond between the brothers. They were close. I didn't want to cause Simon any trouble—not more than I had already caused him. I had to remind myself if I hadn't marked him, Simon would have died, and all in all, that would have been its own pile of trouble.

"Ryeth is here, yes." Simon turned to face Asher, his muscles just as tight, though he no longer paced. 

How long has it been? I asked.

About three days.

Not as long as I had feared. That was good.

"Am I speaking with him now?"

I felt the full weight of Simon's exasperation as he sighed. "Does it sound like you're talking to him? He's... with me, I guess?" To me, he asked, Is that how it works?

Somewhat. Think of me as a bird perched on your shoulder. Metaphorically.

The dragon on my shoulder, Simon snickered. The question is, are you a good dragon or a bad dragon?

Good, I hope, I said sincerely, which made him laugh harder.

"I'm glad you find this amusing," Asher said drily. 

"No, it's not you—it's—never mind." 

I feel as though I am missing something, I said.

There's just this thing, with an angel and a devil—but seriously, never mind. It stops being funny when you have to explain it—the whole joke is crashing and burning right now. 

"Can he hear me?" Asher crossed his arms over his chest and sat back on his desk.

I can, I answered before Simon thought he needed to relay the question to me.

Simon nodded. 

"Exactly how much of what you hear and see is he aware of?"

Simon relayed my words to Asher in spurts when I paused. I can hear what you hear. See what you see. Feel what you feel.

"But he's not in control?"

Simon shook his head.

"How would you know?"

"It was completely different when he took over my body during the fight. It was like I was sitting in the passenger seat of my mind. I could see everything, feel it, hear it, but I wasn't the driver."

"And that's the position he is in now? A passenger?"

Yes.

Simon continued to echo my words. It would have been easier to ask Ryeth to step aside so I could speak to his brother directly, but Asher’s tension made it clear that would not be the best step.

Asher's index finger tapped rapidly on his elbow, his face expressionless now. "And how does he switch positions? Just like that?" He lifted his hand and snapped his fingers.

I can, if necessary, but I prefer to ask permission. It is not courteous to assume control of the conduit without permission or imminent danger.

"Courteous," Asher snorted, but didn't challenge the answer. "You claim you're a dragon, Ryeth?"

I did not take affront to his disbelief. I should have taken the opportunity before to ask Phoenix how long it had been since we were frozen, but I assumed it was long enough that the Ancients had simply become legends. That is what we had always intended. Though if the others were waking... we may have done the world a disservice. Humans would not be prepared for what was to come.

Simon was listening in on my open thoughts. Do you want me to ask Phoenix next time I see him? If you aren't around?

I would appreciate it, I answered Simon, pleased at his attention. He did not hold the same animosity toward me as his brother did. From Simon, I felt mostly... curiosity.

I am the Sapphire Dragon, Ryeth. Member of the Council, Lord of the Sky Mountains, Keeper of the Words of Peace and the Hand of Retribution.

Asher was not impressed. I sighed. My titles probably meant nothing to mortals any more. Well, I had no one to blame but myself.

"And the black dragon is your brother? We haven't formed a terribly good impression of him, killing our friends. What makes you any better?"

I felt indignation rise in Simon, and I used a mental touch to soothe his raised hackles. I didn't kill the girl, did I? It would have been easy. Your brother's body is powerful. I could have killed her and then left your brother, leaving hardly anyone the wiser. Simon probably would have thought he had done it himself. I could not mark him without his permission, but he would have dismissed his agreement as a strange dream in the heat of the moment, and the mark as a result of the attack. I did none of that. I have only been open and truthful with you.

"You marked him... is that the lightning scars over his back?"

Had I control of a body, I would have winced. A conduit's mark was supposed to be a well-planned design of the Ancient and conduit's choosing. Yet one more way I had botched our bond. That is my mark, yes.

"Enough of the twenty questions, Ash," Simon complained without breathing between my words and his. "Ryeth saved me. He saved all of us, probably. I would have been wolf jam if Ryeth hadn't handled the kids' power beams. We can trust him."

Asher's eyes said that he wasn't so sure. 

"Are you going to be watching us all the time, then?"

Interesting—Asher seemed to think my interest was in their pack more than Simon. The pack was only my concern insofar as it affected my conduit. I will be with him often. Unless I slept again, I'd be with Simon always, unless by some miracle my body was freed. I understood the Alpha's reticence to accept something he didn't understand into the safety of his pack, but I had been lost in my own mind for too long to refuse this entry into the world.

"We meet with the artreans this afternoon. I feel compelled to share your... circumstance... with them."

Simon started to make a strangled protest. I accept your brother's caution, I told him.

Well I don't. Simon growled softly, and Asher pinned him with a look. "I just wish you'd trust me, Asher."

Asher stepped forward and laid a hand on Simon's shoulder, but Simon didn't miss the moment of hesitation right before the weight of Asher's touch fell on him.  "I do trust you, Simon. But I don't know him. You don't know him. And it’s not just our safety we guard anymore. Do you understand?"

Simon gave a reluctant nod and turned away from his brother's touch. "I will return when the artreans arrive."

Asher made a sound as if to say something more, but Simon was already gone.