Page 59 of Wolf Heir
Coinneach took hold of her hand. “Where were you off to?”
“The kitchen gardens.”
“I’ll escort you there.” Coinneach glared at Rupert, then led Aisling away.
Drustan left also, Rupert standing in the inner bailey, probably wondering if his da would give him some onerous task. Aisling hoped he would have to muck out the stables.
“Rupert accused me of saying that I believed he was behind Gormelia’s attempt at poisoning me.”
Coinneach frowned at her. “Why would he say such a thing?”
“Because it’s true? I’ve thwarted his attempts to take advantage of me several times, and he becomes outraged that he can’t have me the way he wants.”
“The measly little bastard.”
“Aye. Usually, the lasses he targets let him get away with it. Some are like me and fight him off. Gormelia wanted him to show her the same attention, but he wouldna. She probably thought he would become chief if Hamish died, and then she would mate him and be the lady of the castle.”
“I’ve thought about the succession. Rupert willna be chief. Collum would take over. Hamish’s brother is second in command, and everyone seems to like him.”
“Except Rupert.”
“His uncle holds him to a higher standard than his mother ever would. Are you feeling better now?" Coinneach asked, guiding Aisling through the stone archway into the gardens.
“I am. Thank you for not hitting Rupert.”
Nelly knelt among the rosemary and thyme, a basket at her side. She straightened when she spotted them, the knife she used to cut the herbs glinting in the sunlight. "Were you no’ meant to be patrolling the battlements this morning?"
Coinneach shook his head. “I needed to deal with the enemy within.”
“Rupert,” Aisling clarified for Nelly.
“Oh, you didna hit him, did you?” Nelly asked Coinneach, looking worried.
“Nay. Collum stopped me from laying a hand on the snake.”
“Good, because Morag would go after you with a vengeance.”
“Collum is talking to his da,” Aisling said. “Hopefully, his da will give Rupert some disagreeable chores to do.”
“I would love to see that. He thinks he’s a prince among his slaves,” Nelly said.
“I must return to work before Drustan fires me.” Coinneach kissed Aisling.
“I’ll watch over her,” Nelly said.
“Let’s run as wolves tonight.” Aisling hadn’t done that with Coinneach for a while, and she just wanted to leave the castle to spend time with him alone.
“May I go with you?” Nelly asked. “I mean, not to run as a wolf with you, but to stop by your family’s home and visit with your family.”
Coinneach finally smiled. “Aye. We’ll make sure you get there safely and return to the castle.”
Then he headed out of the gardens, and Aisling told Nelly what Rupert had said about Aisling saying he had been behind Gormelia’s attempt to poison Aisling.
“Nay.” Nelly cupped her face, her eyes wide. “But as many times as he has made advances toward you, you’ve rejected them, and now you’re kissing Coinneach all the time, maybe hewasinvolved. Or possibly the one who instigated it through Gormelia, promising her something like a mating or something.”
“Aye. I have to consider the possibility. Luckily, Collum and Drustan heard Rupert’s words. And Collum asked if Rupert had been behind the attempted murder. Which makes me think that he thought the same as us—that it was a possibility. Why else would Rupert say such a thing?”
“It’s too awful to consider,” Nelly said.
