Little Saint Bride [Death and the Maiden, #1]

Chapter 6: Cave Canem

Cerberus's first head leans towards us, a great pink tongue emerging from his mouth and licking his lips. Gulping, we step backwards.

'I didn't think a three-headed dog was real!'

The dog makes a snapping action towards the furthest part of me; my hand, which sits outstretched on the railing of the bridge. I whip it back so fast that for a moment, I think I've lost it.

'...we've got to run!' I hear Mercer saying. He tugs on my arm, trying to get me to move.

I stand still, unmoving.

I watch as the dog sniffs the place where my hand had been, his great nostrils flickering as he tries to discern the scent. Seeing a dog sends a wave of familiarity over me; I'd always loved animals, and often spent more time with pet than owner.

There hadn't been a dog in the entire kingdom that I couldn't lure with my charms. Whether it was treats, or sticks, or cuddles, I worked out each one's weakness and befriended it.

And despite my initial terror at a dog with three heads, my inner nurturing side is cooing at not one dog's head to pat, but three.

Mercer looks at me as if I've gone mad, stepping towards Cerberus's snapping bite whilst extending a hand.

He desperately pulls my bare arm away, shouting, 'What are you doing? Let's get out of here!'

But I just have this irresistible urge to stroke the dog.

Mercer pushes me into a crouch as the dog's tail swings around, lashing at us. The bridge's handrails crack and crumble. We've barely made it, because neither of us noticed that Cerberus has equally deadly tails; three serpentine spikes, whipping towards us, before curling backwards again.

'If you want to stay and become dog food—!' Mercer begins, but he is silenced by my excited smile.

'I love big dogs!' I breathe, and I stand once more, rising shakily beneath Cerberus's massive heads. They swivel to fixate upon me, the red glow ceasing and his large brown eyes blinking at me in intelligent confusion.

He's still a guard dog, I think. And I would rather face a guard dog than my wedding night.

Shame one doesn't cancel out the other...

'I mean no harm,' I whisper, trying to convey my honesty by staring back at Cerberus's gaze, not blinking, only lifting a flat hand for him to appraise.

To my delight, he does not snap— at least, not yet. He sniffs along my knuckles and wrist, his damp nose tickling my hand. I smile as each head takes it in turn to sniff a part of my hand, flipping it over and creeping up my arm.

Cerberus makes his way up my forearm, to where there are nail marks along it, and lets out a low growl. I hesitate, wondering if this is the moment when I die and Mercer must kindly toss my body off the bridge so that I can reach my final death.

But when Cerberus gives me a great sloppy kiss with his tongue along my arm, I laugh openly, recognising the affection there.

Cerberus lifts his three heads to mine and opens his mouth to carry on licking, but Mercer lets out a high-pitched squeal.

Mercer must think I'm about to be swallowed whole; but the noise has alerted Cerberus, and one of his heads flickers towards Mercer, giving him the sniff treatment as well. Mercer has gone so white I'm concerned he may actually be marble. The dog sniffs his arm, down to his hands with culprit nails, and seems to glance back towards my arm.

Cerberus growls at Mercer in my defence.

I stroke one of Cerberus's chins, and he enjoys the scratching feeling, forgetting about Mercer. The dog obediently sits at my feet, and I have to raise my hand to pet him, almost as if I'm scratching a low ceiling.