“Not really.” He cocked his head. “You’ve been distracted from the start today. I think I know why, too.”
Uh-oh. He definitely had trouble on his mind. “I’m not distracted. It’s the heat. You know I don’t do great with the heat.”
“Oddly, unlike most people who move here from colder climates, you have never fully acclimated to the humidity,” he agreed. “You wilt under extreme heat.”
“I don’t wilt,” I groused. That sounded like a wimpy word to me. “People don’t wilt. Flowers wilt.”
“And you’re my little flower.” He winked at me. “It’s not the heat getting to you today, though. I saw you on the street before you returned home for the lesson, down at the corner under the shade of the willow.”
My heart skipped a beat. “You ... saw ... me?” I swallowed hard. He was about to give me another lecture.
“I saw you and Jared Graham.” His lips quirked. “You were ... talking.”
“We were talking.”
“You were doing a little more.”
I was horrified at the prospect of him watching us. Jared was one grade ahead of me and considered the catch of the junior high crowd. We’d always been friendly. The past two weeks, that friendliness had turned into a bit more. Thankfully, we hadn’t progressed beyond talking.
“We weren’t doing anything,” I argued, adamant. “We were just hanging out and ... talking. If you think you saw something else, you’re wrong.”
Amusement flashed bright in the depths of his eyes. “I wasn’t suggesting that he stole your virtue.”
It took me a moment to realize what he was saying and I was scandalized. “Grandpa!”
He laughed, one of those warm chuckles straight from the belly. “You’re twelve, Izzy,” he pointed out. “All I meant by that was I didn’t see any lip action.”
That didn’t make it any better. “We need to change the subject. I thought you wanted to talk about magic.”
“We are talking about magic. As I mentioned earlier, your magic is tied to your emotions. Your emotions are out of whack because Jared got your heart rate going underneath the tree. I saw him brush your hair away from your face ... and I saw a good fifty leaves strip from the tree at that exact moment. You did that.”
I was taken aback. “What? I didn’t do that.”
“You did. There can be no other explanation.”
“I ... no. I would’ve realized if that was happening. I’m always aware.”
He hesitated and then held out his hands. “You’re usually aware,” he conceded. “Hormones are an interesting thing, however, and that’s what will rule your emotions for a good few years.”
Even though he smiled, I didn’t take it as a compliment. “I know what people say about teenagers and hormones,” I argued. “I’m not a teenager yet ... and I don’t care about hormones. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Ah, Izzy, you’re my heart. I’m always going to worry about you.”
“You don’t have to.” I meant it. “I can take care of myself. You’ve taught me how to be strong ... and brave ... and giving. I’m not ruled by hormones.”
He chuckled lightly. “Of course not.”
“It’s true.”
“Fine.” He held up his hands in a placating manner. “You’re not ruled by hormones.”
“And I’m strong,” I insisted.
“You’re definitely strong,” he agreed. “That doesn’t mean you’re infallible. Life is going to throw you curveballs at times, Izzy. Things will never come easy for you, not even magic. That’s why you have to practice.”
“I have no problem practicing,” I reassured him. “I’m just ... really hot today.”
“Uh-huh.” His smirk was sly. “You’re growing into a lovely young woman, Izzy. I think you’re going to be a fabulous adult. I also think you’re going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
I preened under the compliment.
“However, you rest on your laurels,” he continued. “You assume — because you’ve yet to meet anyone as powerful as you — that streak will continue forever. It won’t.”
I tilted my head, confused. “I don’t understand. What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that you’re strong, but you’re not the strongest being out there.”
He was so serious I had to swallow to give myself time to collect my thoughts. “Are you worried that I think I’m stronger than everybody else?”
He nodded. “Sometimes.”
“I know I’m not,” I offered. “I know there are creatures out there who can rip me limb from limb if they want. There are shifters who are dangerous, and vampires that can be dangerous if raised in nests. I know about all those things.”
“Yes, you’ve read a lot,” Grandpa agreed. “Yet you haven’t faced those things in real life.”
I wasn’t so sure. “I think I’ve seen shifters hanging out on the riverwalk at night.”
He laughed. “Yes, you told me about the full-moon dancing by Cafe du Monde. I still maintain you didn’t see what you think you saw.”
“And I know what I saw,” I insisted. “It was definitely pack dancing.”
“If you say so. That’s not the purpose of this conversation, though. I’m not talking about shifters and vampires. Yes, there are numerous creatures out there who are more powerful than you. You’re cunning. I have no doubt you’ll be able to take them down if it becomes necessary.”
He was doing little to alleviate my confusion. “Okay, then what are you talking about?”
“There are other types of magical beings out there. I’m not talking creatures with fangs and teeth as much as beings who look human but pack quite the magical wallop.”
“What sort of creatures?”
He laughed. “Always the curious sort. I don’t know what sort of creatures, although I can guarantee there will be numerous witches included in that list. That’s not the point of this conversation.”
I’d long since lost track of the point.
“The point is that you’re not the strongest magical being in the world,” he continued. “You’re tough ... and bright ... and always thinking. However, there will come a time when you meet your magical match, and you have to be prepared.”
He was so serious, all I could do was swallow and nod my head. “Okay, what do I do if I meet someone who has stronger magic than me?”
“You practice to make sure you’re ready. That starts today.”
Yeah, I should’ve seen that coming. “Why do I feel as if this conversation has gone in a complete circle?”
“Because you’re as bright as you are beautiful.” He winked at me. “Now, retrieve the log. It’s time to go again.”
That was the last thing I wanted, but he was training me for a specific reason. I couldn’t lose sight of that. “Okay, but I’m going to want some ice cream for dessert if I have to keep working in this heat.”