A/N: Hey guys! Sorry this update took so long when I promised it would be quicker! I do have some news that will make it better though: I felt bad for always making you guys wait so long between chapters, so over my break I decided that, rather than write and update one chapter at a time I would try to finish the entire story before I published this next chapter, and I did it!

Apart from editing, this story is basically finished! It's going to be aroun 27 chapters long, and you shouldn't have to wait any longer than two weeks between updates before it's finished for good ^_^

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer hasn't given me the rights to any of the characters yet, but maybe she'll change her mind when I've finished the story! :)

CHAPTER 23

SETH POV

After establishing that they were far enough from Forks and La Push that they would not be recognised, on the off chance that Seth's mother had reported him as missing, the vampire and werewolf were able to use the passports forged for them by the Volturi to catch a plane to Rome.

From the airport it would only take a few hours' of driving before they reached Volterra and Seth took the chance to sleep while Alec drove. As he hovered somewhere between awake and asleep Seth dreamed of the last few days of travelling, the harmony that had seemed to settle over their movements once he and Alec had confessed their feelings for one another, and the sheer happiness at having his feelings returned that had kept Seth on a high that even the ever-nearing prospect of being presented to the Volturi could not dampen.

Seth wasn't sure if it was the confession of their mutual feelings or the fact that Seth had almost died, but in the recent days Alec had become far more open and talkative than he had been prior to the Romanian's attack.

They had spoken at length on a number of topics, including both of their pasts. Seth had told Alec what it was like growing up on the Rez, and Alec had, in turn, shared some of his experiences with the Volturi, including, with no small amount of hesitation, the events that had led to both he and Jane becoming vampires.

Seth had felt almost physically ill at the thought that, had it not been for the timely intervention of Aro and his coven, his imprint would have been burned at the stake for witchcraft. Seth couldn't even begin to imagine how terrifying the experience must have been for Alec, and for the first time he understood why Jane is so unstable. It was only through a sheer miracle that Alec had not turned out the same. Seth had no idea what he would have done if his family and pack had tried to kill him for loving Alec, which was something as unavoidable for him as the sensory power was for Alec, rather than simply trying to keep them apart. Seth had never thought he would ever feel any kind of positive feeling for Aro and the majority of the Volturi coven, but if it were not for them Alec would have died long before Seth would have had the opportunity to meet him, and for that Seth would be forever grateful.

Gratefulness aside, Seth was not looking forward to meeting with the Volturi again. The closer they came to Volterra, the more afraid Seth became of what would happen when they finally arrived.

The matter of meeting the Volturi was one which had come up several times over the past few days. Both Seth and Alec had given reasons to simply run away, and hope they could avoid the Volturi long enough, and have at least some happiness before they were found and either killed immediately or imprisoned and used for their respective skills. However, every time either of them thought of an excuse to keep away from the other vampires' they came back to the same issue- Demetri. No matter how hard and fast they ran they would never stand a chance with the tracker against them. The only permanent solution would be to allow Demetri to find them, and then kill him before he had a chance to warn the other members of his coven. Neither of them was keen on this idea though, because no matter how much he disagreed with their actions the Volturi were still Alec's coven and he had been with some of them for centuries. Killing one of them would most certainly hurt Alec, and that was something that Seth couldn't allow.

So, together they agreed that they would take their chances with the Volturi at first, and if things turned intolerably sour Alec would use his gift to give them the biggest head start they could manage without killing anyone.

Although they had agreed several times that this was the best course of action, Seth was still afraid of what they would face when they met with the Volturi. This fear had only increased since the full effects of the vampire venom had left his system, and he had woken fully for the first time in almost a week, to realise that the gorgeous eyes gazing at him weren't their usual ruby red, or even thirsty black, but a shining gold.

As it turns out, werewolf blood apparently speeds along the effects of a vampire's 'vegetarian' diet, and when Alec had tried to suck the vampire venom from Seth's body the werewolf blood in his veins had completed Alec's eyes' transformation from red to gold.

Seth thought that the new colour was amazing on Alec. Though he did miss the shining red, which was the first thing he ever noticed about his imprint, he loved what Alec's new golden eyes represented. However, no matter how beautiful, golden eyes did pose a huge problem to their future together, as it cut down the time they could keep their relationship a secret from the Volturi to almost nil. There was no way a group of centuries-old people with fantastic vampire senses would fail to notice such an obvious visual change in someone most of them had known for at least a decade.

Thinking of all the reasons going to the Volturi was a bad idea, not for his own safety, but for the fear of what would happen to Alec if Aro discovered his betrayal, made Seth tense; however, just as he opened his mouth to try one final time to convince Alec that maybe a life on the run wouldn't be so bad, Alec reached across the car and gently placed his hand over Seth's mouth without ever removing his eyes from the road.

"I know Seth," He murmured. "I know this is dangerous and risky, but it is the best chance we have got. We are both too important to Aro for him to have us killed, and they will not want to separate us for fear it will lead to both of us rebelling. I know you are afraid Seth, I am as well, but this is the best chance we have to be able to stay together for a very long time, and that is the most important thing in the world to me. You are the most important thing in the world to me Seth, and I will do anything to remain by your side for the duration of both of our lives."

Seth felt the tears running from his eyes before Alec was even half way through with his speech. As Alec moved his hand from Seth's mouth to gently wipe the tears from his cheeks, Seth let out a shuddering breath and said, "You're all I want too Alec, and I don't know how I got so lucky as to have you, but I'm never letting you go."

He grasped Alec's wrist and gently pressed a kiss to his palm, then simply held Alec's hand to his lips for a few moments, taking in the sweet scent of his imprint, before releasing him.

Alec took his eyes off of the road for a second to smile at Seth and run his hand gently through Seth's hair.

"Sleep." He murmured, and Seth complied. He leaned his head against the cool window of the car and allowed the gentle motion of his imprint's hand in his hair to lull him into a deep sleep.

ALEC POV

Alec relaxed as Seth's breathing evened out, but he continued to run his hand through his mate's hair even as the werewolf slept. In their current situation the motion was just as soothing to him as it was to Seth.

Alec had meant every word he had spoken to Seth. The werewolf is the most important person in his life, regardless of the fact he had known him for barely more than a month while he had lived with some members of his coven, not to mention his sister, for over a millennium.

There was something about Seth that was so refreshing to Alec. He brought a light and happiness to Alec which the vampire could not remember ever feeling in his long life, but for the vague remembrance of emotions from before he was turned, too long ago to be a true memory.

The light that followed Seth made Alec more content than anything in his previous centuries of life, and he truly had fallen in love with the wolf boy.

Alec had also meant it when he said he would do anything to keep Seth safe and by his side, for as long as his mate wanted to remain there, and that included going against his own coven.

Alec is not unintelligent, he knows that once he and Seth's relationship is revealed to Aro the older vampire will do anything to ensure they do not compromise the power of the coven, including threatening either of them to ensure the cooperation of the other.

Alec also knows that his skills are infinitely more useful to Aro than the prospect of a pet werewolf, and if the leader of the Volturi ever had cause to believe that Seth was restricting Alec's loyalty to the coven he would not hesitate to kill the werewolf, as Alec knows he did Marcus's mate. Didyme was Aro's own sister by blood, as Jane is Alec's, and if he was willing to kill her for personal gain it stands to reason that he would not hesitate to dispose of Seth in a similar manner.

Alec will not let that happen, he will not be separated from his light. He has a plan.