Page 58 of Essence of Fear

The way his stare darted from one person on the plane, to the next. When the flight attendant came into view behind the curtain at the front, his gaze was quick to dart to her, too. It was like he was an animal who had just been shoved into a very tiny cage, and he was watching every little thing that moved around him. His muscles were taut like springs when she reached over to place a hand on his wrist.

He was a coiled snake.

Ready to strike.

“Hey,” she murmured.

Pav looked back to her. “Yes?”

“Did they take your knives?”

It was meant to be a joke.

He caught on.

Pav grinned. “They did. Apparently, I could not bring them with me.”

“That’s too bad.”

“I know.”

“Flying isn’t bad, you know?” Viktoria shrugged. “It’s one thing I don’t mind that much.”

He nodded. “It’s not the plane.”

“Then what?”

“Too many people.”

Oh.

She hadn’t thought of that.

He wouldn’t be used to this.

Just like the party …

“They’re foolish,” he murmured, dark gaze drifting to her again. “They think I need a knife to kill everyone on this plane.” A dry laugh passed his lips, though he barely even moved at all. “I only need five minutes and some inspiration.”

Well, damn.

“You still terrify me,” she whispered.

Pav smiled a little. “Good. I should. I would be more worried if I didn’t.”

• • •

Pav stayed close to Viktoria’s side as they headed out of the gate. He’d kept quiet for most of the trip to Russia, and she hadn’t found she wanted to say very much, either. He had accepted one of her earbuds to listen to music with her. He’d made sure to keep a careful distance with his hands, never reaching out to touch her like he first did by squeezing her knee.

Now, though?

As they walked down the corridor toward arrivals, his hand rested at the small of her back with a light touch. Viktoria wasn’t sure if that was more for her, to keep her close to him and away from the swarms of people, or if it was because he was looking to steady himself in a strange and new environment.

Either way, she liked it.

And she didn’t want to deal with that right now.

Something else was on her mind.