Lucien

 The red didn’t fade.

 Long after Rhea pulled away, after her pulse steadied and the runes dimmed, that single line of light beneath the stone remained. Neither glowing nor pulsing

 Just there like a wound that hasn't decided if it wanted to close.

 Lucien didn’t speak. He stared at it longer than he meant to, the air had gone still again but not quiet.

 He stood still above it.

 The silence wasn’t peace.

 Rhea stood behind him, ...