"You are ready. I know that you've learned things from watching the women in France, Anna." Margaret Howard told her daughter as she fastened her corset strings. "The way to a man's heart is to pretend that he is not in yours. Flirt with every man but him, but still draw him towards you at the same time. Agree with him on all of his opinions." She pulled the strings particularly hard and hissed in her ear. "Even if you don't."
Anna rolled her eyes and struggled not to gasp from the pain of the restricting corset. She listened to her advice in silence. It was all nonsense. The sixteen year-year old had no patience for family ambition. She had her own dreams to strive for. Becoming a guardian should be every dhampirs duty and honor, not just a man's. Her outspoken nature and highly opinionated personality got her into trouble the last time that she was at court. Now there was a new king. A new target for every family with an eligible dhampir girl.
That was what Anna was; a ploy for her non-royal father to get closer to the most powerful man in their world and earn his favor. King Vladimir Szelsky had recently inherited the throne when his father died of unknown causes. He hadn't chosen a dhampir mistress yet. That was Anna's mission. To become the center of his attention and the most desirable woman at court. Becoming the king's sole mistress would elevate her family to a more desirable rank. One that her father's family had been struggling to gain for decades. He was young and handsome, or so Anna was told. He fought alongside his guardians as an equal seemed to prefer women who spoke their minds. He took no interest in wall flowers and was easily swayed by a woman that dripped sex appeal. His affairs were always brief. He tired of women quickly and disposed of them, regardless of the tarnish to their reputation. Anna's own sister was now known as 'The Great Whore'.
At a time in her life when she should be lusting after every man at court, she repelled them to keep her independence. It did the opposite of what she wanted. She had every man at court lusting after her. It wasn't until the king revealed to her father that Anna had caught his eye that this plan had been hatched. For the first time in her life, her father was interested in her future. He cared deeply for his legitimate daughter Elizabeth, but until now, he never showed any real interest in his bastard children.
"Do you understand me?" Her mother stepped around her to her glare into her blue eyes. "Yes mother." The maids stepped forward to finish dressing the young girl. Only on special occasions like this was a dhampir girl allowed to have a maid's help. They were normally reserved for the more lavishly dressed—and chaste, Moroi women. "Good. Come home with his heart in your keeping. Your future will be made. Mine will be secure. Your father will be happy." And the world won't come tumbling down.