Page 121 of Hekate: The Witch (Goddesses of the Underworld #1)

When I Went to See Cerberus Now

he was always happy to see me.

His long tail thumped so hard

on the ground that it made

the ground quake under me.

I smiled at his three large faces,

still unsure which one to look at,

but all three were lowering themselves

in my direction, hoping for a pat.

The lesson the kind-eyed boy

had given me stayed with me.

As I thought of him, I felt a pang,

wondering if I would see him again.

I stroked each soft snout gently

and told Cerberus, ‘Good dog,’

then I pulled out the three pieces

of enchanted game from

my worn leather satchel

and placed them on the ground.

As he snacked and his eyes began to close,

I quietly moved to the gleaming light

that spilled between those

stone doors

and pushed them hard.

They opened

just enough for me to slip through.

I was distracting him with food

and my magics, I knew this.

But all creatures respond well to trust.

Even monster dogs.