Free Shifter Magick by Stacy Kinlee Page A

chatter but it calmed down after the professor began his lecture. The vibrating of phones probably meant that they switched from talking to texting but Kera steeled herself against it.
    The hardened shell she was forming around her heart began to crumble the moment Maddox’s hand reached hers. Kera gulped back a sigh of relief when her headache receded and peace consumed her. She silently scoffed her previous thoughts.
    Maddox was like a mood ring that actually repaired her sour mood. He was valuable to her. Kera wondered if he could help keep her sane. If all she had to do was touch him to calm her heart rate, or kiss him to get rid of the beast then this was the best medicine for her ailment.
    Kera smiled at him and squeezed his fingers. Nervous butterflies tickled her stomach and for once she felt normal. She missed most of everything the professor said but that was okay . She already took this course online so she knew she would be able to ace the final.
    When everyone stood up to leave, Kera started to stand.
    Maddox put his hand on her leg to stop her. “Wait a moment for it to clear.” He whispered in her ear.
    Kera shivered. She nodded and watched everyone pass her and stare. Her cheeks heated and she turned to Maddox. “Doesn’t it make you uncomfortable that everyone stares at you?”
    He gave the next person that stared a hard glare that Kera was impressed with. “I didn’t mind when you stared.” He tried to joke with her. “But I’ve learned to ignore it. I’m sorry if it bothers you.”
    Kera wanted to ask him why they all stared. He was hansom beyond belief but there was something more. “If you can ignore it then I can too.” she assured him.
    He frowned at her. “It’s okay if you can’t.”
    Kera realized he was really good at reading her. She gave him this one. “I couldn’t concentrate during class.” She admitted.
    Maddox tapped his pen against his leg and his heart calmed down. Kera wondered again at the habit. Did he have a heart condition? He seemed to have anxiety.  A cook at the diner had anxiety problems and her heart used to beat quickly more than a normal person. Did Maddox use the pen instead of pills like Martha had?
    Engrossed in her thoughts, she stood when Maddox did and pivoted toward the isle. The metal prong on her ace bandage wedged between her shoes and pinched at her skin. Kera panicked when she realized what she had done. She gasped in surprise rather than pain and let her knees buckle.
    Maddox was there to catch her. His strong arm banded around her and her feet left the floor. He pulled her into his lap and reached for her pant leg to check on her ankle.
    “No.” Kera exclaimed.
    Maddox’s hand froze. He turned his head, eyes not more than a few inches from hers, and waited for her to explain.
    Kera felt her heart beat like a racing horse and she prepared a lie that would hurt her to speak it. “I’m not supposed to mess with the bandage.” She told him. “You can’t see anything through all the gauze anyway and I don’t want to think about what it looks like underneath. I didn’t really step too hard it just surprised me.”
    Maddox blinked and she noticed his eyes darken. “ Okay .” he said softly. His voice had a dark cast to it and a low base undertone. Kera swallowed and couldn’t find the will to smile after lying so blatantly to him. It would probably help her case right now because Maddox was now reserved. “Are you hungry?”
    Kera nodded absently. She felt like she should apologize but then he would wonder what for.
    Maddox helped her stand and Kera missed the warmth from his body. He grabbed both of their bags and pulled her against him so she could use him as her crutch.
    Kera was in the depths of despair.
    Once outside, she felt Maddox stiffen beside her. Kera looked around as they walked to his car and found Andrew standing at the edge of the parking lot looking directly at her. If he had been waiting for her again, he hopefully got the