Chapter 6.

Adrian's POV

This was stupid, there was no way Rose was going to go for this not after the way dad treated Anna. I don't know what mom was thinking an introductory ball, yeah right. It was to late to back down now though I was already at the Belivok's front door waiting for one of them to answer.

"Adrian, come in." Demetri said as he opened the door.. I followed him into the kitchen where Rose was sitting at the table.

"Rose I was wanting to talk to you about something." I said as I took a seat across from her.

"What is it Adrian?" she asked.

"I was talking to mother and she had the idea that Anna should have an introductory ball, to introduce her to the royal community. Apparently there all the rage right now even in Royal born damphires. She says that she already talk to Lissa, and said that she agreed to have Ragen's on the same day if Anna wishes."

"Are you sure that the right thing to do. I mean with the way Nathan treated her, do you really want to subject her to more discrimination?" Rose gave me a funny look.

"People like my father are becoming more of a rarity these days, There are more damphires today with royal blood and less mori who see it as a disgrace." I said.

"He's right Roza." Demetri was backing me on this which surprised me. "Being a damphire with royal blood is much more acceptable now, and this would be a good way for Adrian to announce that Anna is his daughter." Rose looked from Demetri to me, and took a deep breath.

"If she wants it I won't say no, but I will not force her to do it.' she said

"Rose I would never force my little damphire to do anything. If she says she doesn't want to do it, then I will tell my mother no. I was planning on asking her tonight, but I thought I ask you first."

"Thank you for asking Adrian, but it's up to her." Rose said

"Alright well I best be going, Anna should be at my place in about an hour." I said standing.

"I'll see you out." Demetri said. When we reached the door I stopped and turned to him.

"Demetri I wanna make sure your okay with this to." I told him.

"Adrian, you hardly need my permission to do something with your daughter." he said.

"You raised her, she's just as much your daughter as she is mine. I know she still thinks of you as a father, and I think of you as her father also."

"Thank you Adrian, that means a lot to me, and of course I am fine with it, as long as she is." I nodded and then headed out the door.

Anastasia's POV

I went to dad's house after dinner, he has said he wanted to talk to me about something, but I had no clue what. When I reached his place I knocked on the door and he was there moments later.

"Hello my little damphire." he said as he kissed my forehead. "Come in and have a seat. Can I get you something to drink."

"Umm, some water please." I said as I took a seat on the couch. Dad despaired into the kitchen. His living quarters where smaller then ours, but that's because it was just him. When dad returned he had a glass of wine in one hand and a water bottle in another, he handed me the water and took a seat in the chair across from me.

"My mother called me the other day, she wanted me to tell you that she's sorry about the way my father acted and that she didn't say anything to stop it. She hopes your not to angry with her."

"I'm not, she was sweet to me, I'm sorry I couldn't spend more time with her." I told him.

"She like to spend more time with you also, which is why she and Lissa came with the idea to throw you and introductory ball." he paused to see what my reaction would be, I'm sure my face was filled with shock but he kept talking. "Your mother says that she's fine with it, and Ragen agreed to have a joint ball with you so you don't have to do it alone. If you wish not to have one though just tell me." I thought about it for a minute, the ball would allow me to come out to the world as Anastasia Ivashkov and to connect with my mori half, but it would also open me up to more backlash from those like Nathan. I wasn't afraid of that though, was I?

"I'll do it as long as Ragen still wants to." Dad smiled.

"I'll let you grandmother know she'll be very happy." he kissed my forehead. I stayed and talked with dad for awhile before I headed to my dorm and went to sleep. I had dreams of a ball, of my dad, and my whole family happy and smiling.