Whispers Between the Veil: A Paranormal Romantic Thriller | A Novella (The Shorties Romance Collection)

In the crumbling shadows of Blackwood Hollow, a troubled artist and a curious historian uncover a love that defies time—and the dark secrets that threaten to claim them both.

Emma Sinclair
In the murky depths of Blackwood Hollow, along a long rural road, the old house stands alone, its wide porch creaking under the weight of years. The shingles on its roof curl in protest against the passage of time, and the acres of overgrown land surrounding it feel as though they've swallowed the land whole. I’m Emma Sinclair, and this dilapidated place has been left to me. It’s a quiet refuge, or so I thought. What I didn’t expect was to find myself tangled in the ghosts of a long-forgotten past, one that seems to reach out to me with every passing breeze.

I’m not the only one drawn to this place. Gavin Reid, a local historian, shows up at my doorstep uninvited. There’s something about him—his intense gaze, the way he’s searching for something in these ruins. He says he’s here to learn about the history of the place, but it doesn’t take long to realize he’s not just interested in the house; he’s fascinated by something much deeper. And before long, I find myself caught in the web of dark secrets he’s uncovering.

Each night, the house seems to whisper to us—both of us, pulling us together in ways neither of us can explain. The air is thick with the tension of things left unsaid, with the weight of a love that never quite died, even if it’s long gone. Gavin and I are tied to something beyond our control, and as we uncover more, the past begins to consume us. It’s as if the house itself is alive, watching us, testing us. We can’t ignore the pull between us, but every step we take seems to bring us closer to a tragic end.

I’m not sure if this is fate or something darker, but I know one thing: we can’t escape Blackwood Hollow. Not until we face the love and the loss that still echoes in its walls.