All Chapters of Claiming The Archduchess: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Prologue

PROLOGUEALEJANDRO POVThe tension in the room was thick and cloying, the air dense and heavy to breathe. I pinched the bridge of my nose and stared at the small chair that was placed in the middle of the office, curtains closed and shadows hiding underneath the blinding light of the crystal chandelier above. It was a good place, the one grandmothers used to have. What enticed me was not the chair… No.It was the bambolina dressed in a white dress, hair pulled in a tight bun on top of her head. She had on her feet white stiletto heels with red bottoms, and her face held no emotions whatsoever. “Signorita, please. I did not mean to…”“To betray my husband and I? I know.” She nodded with mock understanding, then pulled the white gloves from the pocket of her white fur coat that was draped behind the chair, and dropped them to her lap.My blood ran cold with what came next!“They had my family. My wife and my daughter… I didn’t know what to do.” The traitor bawled from the floor in fr

Last Updated : 2024-12-27

Chapter 1

Claiming The Archduchess/RARE

RAYANA POVIgnorance is bliss!And so were the times I pretended to be one of the million citizens of Great Britain without the duties and the expectations of my ‘holier than thou’ last name following closely behind me like a shadow. Very unfortunately, those times did not end well; it so happened that every time I stepped out of the shell that had cocooned me my entire life, things just had to go to shit!And to shit they go. I raised my head as the heavy metal door slammed shut a few yards from where I was canoodled on the cold floor, blankly staring at my sparkly two-toned green and silver Jimmy Choo’s. Something about the gems studded into the fabric fascinated me!“Get up, princess. Looks like today is your lucky day.” The mean Latino officer intoned as she jiggled heavy cell keys, the sound creating a hollow echo inside my brain. The deadlock bolted into place before she yanked the bar door open, and then held it ajar. I got up from my pitiful position and straightened the non

Last Updated : 2024-12-27

Chapter 2

Claiming The Archduchess/RARE

Chapter 2ALEJANDRO POVThe clock’s timely ticks and tocks filled in the silent space, the words ‘Tell me about yourself’ lingering in the air between us. Everything about being here left a bitter taste in my mouth, and made me ache for something entirely different. I came here because somebody suggested I needed it. I needed to think about something; anything other than blood and white powder and reigning the underworld, yet all the red-haired bambolina did for the past eleven minutes and thirty-seven seconds was flash her undoubtedly fake tits in my direction and lift her skirt inches higher up her thighs.A universal ‘I want to fuck you’ sign women flashed whenever they wanted someone up in their nooks and crooks!I could fuck her right where she sat; considering I had already pictured all the ways I could switch positions in her like I was doing some yoga. Yoga! Maybe I should try that shit. Maybe it would ease the blood lust and make me think like a human!Tick. Tock. Tick. Toc

Last Updated : 2024-12-27

Chapter 3

Claiming The Archduchess/RARE

Chapter 3RAYANA POVThe sun floated across the sky as I sat on the elevated sill staring blankly at the greenery that stretched on the acres and acres of land. Tears left a trail of sticky mess on my face, and my chest rose and fell with short breaths as I tried to make meaning of the situation. It felt like a nightmare; a cold, inhuman, cruel dream and my heart was screaming in agony to be shaken awake. My dad and I may have had our differences but he was everything to me. The man got me in ways that nobody had ever done, and he was my safe space when the world kept me awake at night. And to lose him just like that… It was a cruel joke. He was sick. There was no doubt that he was ever going to make it. Leukaemia sucked him dry from the inside. I watched him wither and rot in his skin until he was nothing but the shallow reflection of the glorious and mighty man he used to be. It hurt me to see him slowly perishing, but all of that didn't prepare me for his death. None of it ev

Last Updated : 2024-12-27

Chapter 4

Claiming The Archduchess/RARE

RAYANAI whisked my head to the side and glared at the monster who was sitting at my right, looking so unaffected by the series of nonsense he just spewed. Inheriting the archduchy was all that he thought about. My blood roared in my veins, and venom threatened to choke me dead. I bit my tongue and swallowed the poison that was ready to pour off my tongue, then decided to glare out the window at the passing scenery. He was right, to some extent. Our lives, unlike theirs, were a long political charade, always open and exposed to the eyes of the public. And vultures and thieves were hiding in the shadows waiting for a moment of weakness, just a tiny lapse in judgment and they would latch on everything that had the archduchy name on it. I released a shaky breath and pinched my eyes shut.And in that moment, I wished I was born ordinary. At least I could mourn my father’s death without having to worry about being mocked for grieving my dad. “I understand it is hard for you, brother.

Last Updated : 2025-01-01

Chapter 5

Claiming The Archduchess/RARE

Chapter 5ALEJANDRO POVI watched her out of my peripheral vision as she rose from her seat and walked out. Her face was swollen, her feet wobbly, yet she managed to hold her head up high and walk out like she owned the place. I looked at the front of the ballroom at the excuse of a man called her brother, only to find him glaring piercing daggers at her retrieving back. I let out a smooth chuckle!Of course, he didn’t like it. And she just had to do it.My chest ballooned with pride as I cast another look at her, and a foreign feeling caught my heart in a tight grip.I swallowed hard. I don’t know what it was that propelled me to fly to the UK. And I knew damn well it wasn’t to pay tribute to the late archduke. Yes, we may have been business associates but that was all it ever was. Nothing more, nothing less. And we sure as hell were not on a friendly basis to attend each other’s backyard brunches and funerals. And heck, now that I thought about it, I had a shit ton of things to t

Last Updated : 2025-01-02

Chapter 6

Claiming The Archduchess/RARE

Chapter 6RAYANA POV The morning arrived, and I peeled myself reluctantly from the warm pillow. The inside of my head felt like a clubhouse of a thousand trolls, and there was this sinking feeling that seemed to be pulling my insides into a bottomless pit. I remained seated for a few minutes, trying to come to the current reality and not drift away in the musings of my mind. As much as my mind had rather amusing things- and I would rather be anywhere than in my current life- I had to get up and face the day. The door was yanked open and in came Charlotte dressed in a pair of black pants, black stiletto heels, and a black coat. She had on her head a small veil that covered her pale skin and undoubtedly poofy eyes. “You look like shit.” She said walking in my direction and stood before my bed. I wanted to ask where she got the energy to get up so early and prep up, while I was here feeling like I had had a one on one with John Cena in a wrestling mania!“And you bathed nice,” I said

Last Updated : 2025-01-03

Chapter 7

Claiming The Archduchess/RARE

Chapter 7RAYANA POVLiquid shock held my lungs captive as I watched HIM walk away, shoulders and frame larger than life. Everything in my body and soul just knew that it was the beautiful intruder from last night, the same man who'd moved into my head and decided to live rent-free. His face was the replica of an angel, his body the one only possessed by gods. It was clear to any onlooker that God took his time sculpting, modeling, and framing to be the finest specimen he was.And the voice... I now knew who the owner of that sweet voice was, and intrigue bubbled inside me like green acid.I wondered what his eyes looked like. Damn the bloody glasses that hid those killer jewels from me."I don't blame you for staring. He's hot as fuck." Charlotte's voice yanked me from my musings. Redness crept to my face and I thanked Heaven for the small blessings since my face was already red from all the crying.I cast a look at my sister to find her staring at me, a knowing look on her face. I

Last Updated : 2025-01-07