CHAPTER 23

Back at the party, I caught a glimpse of Demetri and Felix, both had a shit-eating grin on their face but luckily they didn't get a chance to say anything as all the guests gathered on the walkway leading to the car Bella and Edward would take. Everyone cheered and clapped as the newly wedded couple drove off into the night, once the car was out of sight I said my goodbyes to Renee and Charlie, promising to call them once I reached Italy.

At the airport I changed out of my dress and into a hoodie and sweatpants, Alec helped me take down my braids and put my hair in a simple ponytail. Once on the plane, I sat in the middle seat with Alec next to the window and Felix next to the aisle, and Demetri in the seat behind us. I slept the entire flight, and once we landed Alec carried me off the flight and to the car.

I was awake by the time we were driving through the streets of Volterra, and to a hidden underground garage in the castle, luckily there was an emergency staircase that Alec and I used to go up to the reception area, which looked the same but with a different receptionist. I tried not to pay too much attention to her, knowing that she probably wouldn't be there long. Following Alec inside the throne room I saw Demetri and Felix had already arrived, Aro was already standing in front of his throne while Caius and Marcus stayed seated.

"Ah, our dear Cecilia has returned!"

Aro bounded down the steps toward us, I tightened my hold on Alec's hand but Alec easily slipped his hand out of mine before presenting his hand to Aro. Even with the thought I wasn't in any trouble I was still scared of Aro so I tried to stay as close to Alec as possible but Aro took my hand pulling me out of Alec's shadow.

"My dear Cecilia, you will make a lovely addition to our guard and I know Alec will be happy you have decided to stay with us permanently."

"Thank you."

Dismissing us, Alec grabbed my hand again leading me from the throne room, back down the hall but Alec turned and led me away from the throne room and the reception area. We made our way upstairs and down a short hallway coming to a stop in front of a heavy oak door. Slowly pushing the door open, Alec let me go first, my jaw dropped as I looked around the lavish room. The room was massive, a big fireplace was on the far left wall with a sofa and coffee table in front of it, and on both sides of the fireplace, bookshelves that went up to the ceiling lined the wall. Two grand windows with heavy curtains were on the long wall in front of us, on the right side of the room a king-sized bed with four-posters with a thin see-through curtain draped over it and a closed-door on either side of the bed. Slowly walking around the room, I felt out of place, everything was elegant and old, going over to the bookshelf I noticed that most of the titles were in another language.

"I ask that you don't wander the castle alone."

Turning to Alec I noticed he had sat on the sofa, almost lounging on it.

"Okay. Why do you have a bed? You bring other girls to your room?"

Glancing over his shoulder at the bed before looking back at me, a smirk on his face and playfully rolling his eyes.

"Relax. I ordered it while I was in Forks, after you told me you wanted to come to Italy with me. You are the first girl in my room, besides my sister, of course."

In a blur of movement, Alec was in front of me, leaning down so his lips ghosted over mine as he spoke.

"Why don't we break in the bed."

Nodding my head Alec lifted me up and in a small gust of wind, my back hit the mattress of the bed. Crawling on top of me, Alec captured my lips with his as he began to undress me.

The last 4 months had been amazing, Alec and I had grown closer to the point we were inseparable save for when he was on guard duty and the few times he spent twin time with Jane. Most of the time Alec and I were making good use of the bed in his room, the other times we spent lounging on the sofa with Alec reading to me as I laid on his chest.

Standing in front of the big mirror in the bathroom brushing my teeth, ready for bed, when the door burst open, almost coming off its hinges. Jumping in fright, Alec was spinning me in his arms to face him.

"When was the last time you talked to your sister or any of the Cullens?"

Frowning, I pulled the toothbrush out of my mouth.

"Not since the wedding. Why? What's wrong?"

Relaxing a little, Alec let me go as I turned back to the sink and rinsed out my mouth.

"We need to go see Aro. We have to clear your name of the crime."

"Crime? What Crime?"

Not answering me, Alec picked me up and ran to the throne room, where the three kings and the high-ranking guards were waiting, and Irina was also with them.

"Cecilia. It pains me greatly to have to inform you of this but first."

I put my hand in Aro's without complaint, Aro hunched over my hand digging through my thoughts and memories before he looked up, giving me a smile as he released my hand, standing straight again, Aro went and stood in front of his throne, ready to address everyone in the room.

"The Cullens have broken one of our most sacred rules. Irina from the Denali coven has seen the immortal child with Bella, Edward Cullen's newborn mate."

I couldn't believe it, they were wrong. I couldn't breathe, my fingers started to tingle, and spots formed in my vision. Running out of the throne room I didn't hear someone follow me.

"Cecilia!"

I heard Alec's voice but it felt so far away as I continued to run, I was hyperventilating but I couldn't stop.

"Cecilia, stop!"

I felt Alec's cold arms wrap around me, stopping me from running. Gently turning my head to look at him. Tears poured down my cheeks as my legs gave out, Alec caught me easily, cradling me in his arms as he walked us to his room. Laying me down in bed, he pulled the covers up to my chin, kissing me on the forehead before going to the door to leave.

"You're going to kill my sister, aren't you?"

"Don't think of it. Try to get some sleep, I will be close in you need me. I love you, Cecilia."

Turning over, I snuggled deeper into the covers as Alec turned the lights off and closed the door. Hearing the click of the door closing I closed my eyes, trying to stop the tears but I couldn't control the fat tears that rolled down my face as I sobbed into the pillow. I cried until I was so exhausted I couldn't keep my eyes open and I passed out.