Page 5 of Drift: Willa & Koy

Bruin stepped closer and the crowd around us drifted back.

“Willa…”

I could hear the warning from Raef, but I ignored him. Behind the counter, Speck’s gaze jupmed from me to Bruin.

“That’smycopper,” Bruin said, voice lowering.

“No. It’s not. I’ve told you before, all of you, that stealing will get you barred from these docks. Permanently.”

His smile widened. “And how exactly do you think you’re going to make that happen?”

Half the tavern had taken notice now. I could feel dozens of eyes on me.

Bruin’s stare didn’t break from mine as I lifted my hand. I didn’t hesitate before I snatched up the coin purse, turning on my heel. But a second later, his shadow was moving on the floor beside me.

I sank down and slid to the side as I reached to the back of my belt, pulling my dagger free, and as I pivoted, it lifted between us. The sunset glinted off the jewels set into its hilt, making tiny purple and red flecks of light dance up my arm.

The tip of the blade was pointed at Bruin’s chest, and that was enough to push him over the edge. His fist raised up, ready to come down on me when I was suddenly pulled out of reach. I nearly fell, toppling into the table beside me and knocking over two chairs.

Koy was standing between us, his tall frame matching Bruin’s.

Anyone in the tavern who hadn’t been watching us was staring now, the eyes of the ship crews lit with the anticipation of a tavern brawl. But Koy looked placid, his calm exterior intact. He squared his shoulders to Bruin, giving me his back.

“You should talk to your girl about taking what doesn’t belong to her.” Bruin’s eyes cut to me.

Your girl.

My blood boiled. That’s what they called me when they wanted to humiliate me in front of Koy, but I hadn’t seen him react to it once. The Jevalis didn’t seem to get under his skin the way they did mine. If they did, he was good at not showing it.

“Speck.” Koy’s even, steady tone was the same it always was. “Give him his bottle. He can drink his rye on the beach tonight.”

Bruin’s head tilted a little to one side, sizing Koy up. Koy was always finding a compromise, and the Jevalis didn’t like it. They were in a constant game of trying to make Koy choose between me and them, and so far, he’d managed to avoid the trap.

Speck obeyed, taking one of the unopened bottles and sliding it across the counter. Bruin stared at Koy for another long moment before he took it and stalked out, the others on his heels.

The rest of the tavern begrudgingly went back to their drinks, and Koy watched them go as I slid the dagger back into my belt. When he turned, he didn’t face me. He was looking at Raef. “What did I tell you?”

Raef’s hands lifted into the air in front of him, mock innocence on his face. “Hey, I tried,” he said, looking to Speck for back up. “Right? Didn’t I try?”

Speck, the only one smart enough to keep his mouth shut, didn’t say a word.

“What do you mean,what did I tell you?” I looked between the brothers. “Koy?”

He ignored me, snatching the coin purse from my hand and tossing it onto the counter in front of Speck. “I told you to leave it.”

“And I toldyou,we can’t run things like this. Not unless we want it all to fall apart.”

Koy shook his head. “You don’t understand how things work here. I do. Would it kill you to listen to me?”

“Would it killyouto listen tome?”

Raef drained his glass, attempting to slip away unnoticed.

“Did he tell you to watch me?” I said, stopping him. “Is that it?”

Raef shot a panicked look in Koy’s direction.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered, raking a hand over my face. “So, what? You have your brother keeping watch over me now?”

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