Regrets of The Fallen (Victis Honor Book 1) by Jake Taylor Read Free Book Online Page A

She didn’t have to do anything or say anything; her presence seemed to be enough to make Isabella happy. Haruka didn’t claim to understand why; she was just grateful.
    This put her in a mood that helped as they entered a heavily crowded market area of the town. So far they’d only passed one or two people, but now they were in the thick of it. Dozens, even hundreds of people milled about in this area, hundreds of eyes that could focus on and judge her. This was the test, she felt, but for what, exactly, she didn’t know. She didn’t get long to think about it, either, because Isabella grabbed her hand, flashed her a smile and pulled her through the crowd, weaving between moving bodies.
    Isabella’s grip was reassuring, her smile more so, and her excitement soon cancelled out Haruka’s anxiety. The monk didn’t need to be an expert on people to figure out that Bella was doing this on purpose. It put the facts of her new life in front of her, really; made them reality. She realized her chosen devotion to the cobalt-haired woman gained her not only devotion in return but support , a partner that would be at her side through everything.
    Haruka found herself embracing such ideas more quickly and fully than she would have thought herself capable of. She felt that, having been so solitary, removed and hard for most of her life, she should be more resistant to gaining such a strong friendship so quickly. Perhaps she’d never been lonely out of choice. Perhaps she’d just never had someone she wanted such a bond with and, now that she did, she was eager to see just how far it would go.
    Isabella pulled her up to a stand, grinning like a child at the man behind it. Haruka examined the man’s stand and noticed all manner of food, mostly sweets and candy. For some reason, the fact that Bella chose this as the first place to stop didn’t surprise her. “Two of the least healthy things you have, please!” she exclaimed, causing Haruka to roll her eyes.
    The man – an elderly gentleman dressed nicely for the crowds today – did glance at Haruka’s mask a bit long, as she expected, but encouragingly, he seemed interested rather than repulsed or cautious. Haruka supposed Isabella’s repeated assurance that she would ‘look mysterious’ had been correct all along. Maybe this whole thing wouldn’t be so bad after all.
    The old man chuckled at Isabella’s energy and her order, looking at her in amusement. “I can appreciate the sentiment, young one,” he said as he worked on two items.
    Isabella smiled. “Young one, huh? I don’t get that very often.”
    “Oh, you may be well beyond your childhood, but still in your earlier years. I’m over eighty so, to me, you’re young.”
    Isabella grinned at him. “You’re a human, right? I’m over three hundred, so I’m well older than you.”
    The man chuckled again. “You may think that at first, but reaching the end of your life is more significant in matters of age than years are. The two of you are young to me no matter what you say.”
    Isabella smiled respectfully at him. “I bow to your superior wisdom,” she stated, physically bowing. “I hope that means you won’t judge me for the extremely childish manner in which I intend to experience this day.”
    Both the man and Haruka laughed at that. He then handed them each a shish kabob covered with candied fruit that dripped with syrup, grinning as Isabella’s face lit up. “Everyone needs to act like a kid every so often. Keeps you sane.”
    Bella gave him a smile as she paid him. “ You , sir, understand.” She handed one of them to Haruka, bidding the man good-bye as they started walking again, biting into the fruit and making the exact sounds one would expect from a child eating sweets.
    Haruka smirked, overtly taking a bite like a normal person, an act that didn’t go past Bella’s notice. The blue-haired woman stuck her tongue out at her and Haru snickered. She looked back over her shoulder. “Speak