Gothikana: A Dark Academia Gothic Romance
Page 31
The life she was living was one she never would have thought possible for herself. It had been her dream – a man who loved her, a dog who adored her, a passion that occupied her time, and the possibility of children one day. She was living her dream and some days, much to Vad’s amusement, she cried to sleep because of how beautiful it was and how scared she got that they would lose it. He remained her mountain through those times.
After the tower incident, Corvina had decided to drop her degree and instead spend her time at the Institute recovering, reading, and studying what she liked without any academic curriculum. After moving out, she had opened a small business making candles, crafting unique jewelry, and doing online tarot readings. Vad had been extremely supportive of that, telling her to do what brought her peace and pleasure, as he’d joined as an associate professor at the local university, his passion always teaching.
Corvina had been happy with it all, never aspiring for more, until two years ago. They had been snowed in that winter and for the first time in a long time, she had opened the journals she’d written in Verenmore, and read them all, something like longing finding her heart.
She had found herself in bed while he slept, picking up her laptop and opening a blank document, pouring herself out on the pages, all her emotions and all the questions they never got any answers to coming out flying from her fingers. She never found out what had happened to Roy that night, never found out who the boy in the library had been, never found out what actually happened on the Black Ball, so many things unanswered.
She had poured it all out in a hundred-thousand-word book.
Corvina picked up the hardcover of the book from the desk in his office, one he always kept there because of how proud he was of her, and looked down at it.
Gothikana by C.V. Deverell
A fictional gothic romance story based on her time at the university between a charismatic professor and his haunted student, and a mystery that walked the castle it was set in.
“The guy from Tenebrae Times called me again today, asking for an interview with you,” Vad said wryly, giving her a look that got her all hot and bothered. He had only become more charismatic in the last five years, his hair littered with more premature grey, his forehead creased with two more lines, his energy vibrating with more gravitas that she found absolutely thrilling.
Corvina put the book down and went to him, falling sideways on his lap, scratching Count’s head as he raised it for some love.
“That’s why I give them all your contact,” she quipped, waving the envelope in her hand at him. “You have a way of saying no to people.”
He gave her a slight grin. “What’s that?” he nodded to the envelope.
“This, dear husband,” she dropped it on his palm, “is my gift for you.”
He took his glasses off, giving her those naked silver eyes that made everything in her body clench with just one look, and tore it open.
It took him a moment to see what it was. His jaw clenched.
“Explain,” he commanded and she took a deep breath, the excitement and nervousness making her squirm. He stilled her with a big palm.
“I spoke to Dr. Detta yesterday,” she told him as he took the papers out.
“Corvina,” he sighed, looking up at her, and she could see the want in his eyes even as he tried to resist.
“I love you, Mr. Deverell. And I love you for sacrificing what you did for me,” she whispered against his lips. “But it’s been too long. I’ve been good. You’ve been good. We’ve been good.”
“But-”
She pressed a finger to his lips. “That’s the legacy of the children we’ll have. I want to raise them there and show them the beauty of it.”
“There is also darkness, Corvina.”
“It’s time for us to go home, Vad,” she rubbed her thumb over his jaw. “Dark as it can be, it’s where we both found ourselves. We can make it better.”
He gave her a fierce look, his arm tightening around her, the tickets falling into her lap as he kissed her hard. Corvina smiled against his mouth.
The castle on the mountain awaited them.
Tomorrow, they would return to Verenmore once again.
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THE END, FOR NOW
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I hope you enjoyed the journey to Verenmore. I would be super grateful if you could take a second to leave a review before hopping on your next book adventure. Thank you!
Acknowledgments
Gothikana is very different from anything I’ve written so far, but it’s also the story truest to my heart. People don’t know this but I studied in a boarding school in the mountains for a few years. It was beautiful and ethereal and old, and when I left, I left with questions I never found answers to. That is possibly where the seed for Gothikana took root in my subconscious without my realization.
A lot of the scenery, experiences, and rules of Verenmore have been inspired by my own experiences. For example, when I moved into my room, I was told the girl who had been on my bed previously had died, and rumors were she haunted the building. There were certain things I experienced in my time there that did defy explanation, and in a way writing Gothikana gave me some closure and acceptance to a lot of open-ended questions. Sometimes, not all questions have answers, and if they do, we don’t always find them. And we have to learn to live with that.
I want to thank a few people for getting me in a place where this story could be written as it was meant to.
First and foremost, to my parents. You’re my sun whenever my world tilts on its axis – full of warmth, constant, and lightening the darkness in my soul. The abundance of your unconditional love is the reason why I didn’t give up on myself a long time ago, and why I continue to not give up. Thank you for telling me I would always be your baby no matter what, for being in my corner no matter what. I love you.
Secondly, to my friends, who live far from me but stay in my heart, who know how weird I can be and love me anyways, especially when I disappear for days without a word. Thank you for being my people for years, the people I can call after days in the middle of the night to talk about the most random of shits and it’s like we never stopped. Thank you for accepting my bad sides with the good. You know who you are.
Thirdly, to all the beautiful people I’ve met in the book community, without whom I wouldn’t be here. You have cheered me up on more days that you realize. Your love and encouragement has made this journey so much more beautiful than I ever imagined. Thank you for every kind message, for every recommendation, all the gorgeous edits, and stunning photos. Thank you for being on the ride with me. I’m so, so grateful for you.
Special thanks to the bookstagrammers who were the first to pick up my books in 2020. You are the ones who introduced and accepted me into this beautiful community, and you are the ones who have recommended my babies to friends every chance. You’ve made me one of the happiest girls in the world just by embracing me and sharing your love. Thank you. You know who you are (because I never shut up about it lol).
Fourthly, to Nelly, my incredible, supremely talented friend, who has always so generously given the vision to my words. Thank you so much for creating such stunning covers for my babies. You’re pivotal to my journey. I love you so much!
Also thank you to Rachel and Zainab for being my eagle eyes at the last minute!
And last but not the least, to my readers. You’re the reason I slap myself every time I feel like an imposter, the reason I don’t burn my laptop when I feel everything I’ve written is shit, the reason I find the courage to share the stories in my head. Your acceptance, your love, your support is the reason I am where I am today, living my dream, doing what I love, and finding the strength to share it. So, thank you, from the bottom of my being, thank you for choosing to come on the ride with me and trusting me with your time. It’s precious to me.
I hope you enjoyed this journey.
MORE BY RUNYX
Dark Verse Series
1 - Th
e Predator (An Enemies to Lovers Dark Mafia Romance)
2 - The Reaper (An Enemies to Lovers Dark Mafia Romance)
3 - The Emperor (A Forbidden Friends to Lovers Dark Mafia Romance)
4 - The Finisher (Coming November 2021)
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