Circle of Death by Thais Lopes

first time, still in Lucio’s arms. I didn’t want to move, but I owed him an explanation. I knew what I had said last night would be just enough to make him think about more questions. But I couldn’t force myself to think about those days, about when I first met him. I was sure Lucio was the vampire that caused that last fight between Seth and me. Would he still protect me? Would he still trust me? I would be breaking one of my vows... But he deserved the truth.
    I could feel him beside me, alert, attentive to any detail that could become a threat. Protecting me. And I did feel protected. He was the only one who could make me feel like that.
    “Good morning.” I said, raising my head to look him in the eye. “And I’m sorry about last night. “It was just a reaction to the nightmare.”
    “No apologies, I understand. If you were dreaming about Seth, there was no way you wouldn’t mistake my touch for his. We had the same training and were turned together.”
    The name “Seth” hadn’t been mentioned last night. I closed my eyes, knowing my instincts had been telling me the truth all that time. Seth was close, and we would soon meet again.
    “It was him, wasn’t it? Seth followed us after the party. It was about him you were worried.” I said, opening my eyes, wishing he would tell me I was wrong.
    But I wasn’t.
    “Yes. What could he want with you, if you already kicked him from your life?” He asked, but I could hear the other questions there. Where? When? How?
    But I could only answer what he asked aloud. What did Seth want with me? What could he want from the woman who used powers of death to try to destroy him?
    “He wants to kill me.” I said, surprised when my voice didn’t tremble.
    Lucio stared at me, waiting for me to continue, but I denied with a shake of my head. I had no doubts that he would know it all, but not yet.
    “You didn’t know it before, and still thought he was a threat. Why?”
    His expression became carefully blank. “We have a past, Seth and I. We were brothers before we became enemies. The last time I saw him, he swore he would destroy me.”
    I wasn’t the only one with a past I wanted to forget. How could it be possible that two people hunted by the same vampire found themselves together? And now one of them could protect them, maybe even destroy the threat. But that also gave us an advantage.
    Meeting Lucio’s gaze, I took a deep breath.
    “We are safe here. He won’t risk fighting both of us unless he is at full strength. If he threatened you like that, it’s because you can truly hurt him. Together, we may be able to destroy him. He won’t risk coming inside without an invitation, that would weaken him.
    Without saying anything, Lucio dragged me close and kissed me, his control almost gone. Shivers of pleasure crossed my body, and I could feel his reaction to my response. Not giving him time to move away or to think, I took off his shirt. Almost instinctively, he returned the favor, and I could finally feel his skin against mine.
    In one moment I was above him, in the other I was lying on the bed, pinned under Lucio. He stared at me with that predatory gaze, so intense I could barely hold it. I smiled and ran my hands over his chest and abdomen, feeling his muscles twitch under my touch. He closed his eyes, trying to control himself, but I wouldn’t let him. Not again.
    Holding on to his shoulders, I lifted myself until I could whisper on his ear.
    “Don’t control it. If you want this as much as I do, don’t control yourself. I’ll take care of myself.” I finished with a little bite to his earlobe.
    His eyes opened, predator eyes. Before I could understand what was going on his mouth was on my neck, and he licked the skin over the artery as if he could bite me, driving me crazy.
    “Do you know what you’re asking me?” He let me feel his fangs against my skin.
    “Yes.” My answer was little more than a moan, as one of his hands had just found a