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Nope. Not going there.

I clear my throat.

“Okay. Enough about my tragic love life. Let’s get back to your ridiculous fortune.”

Gabriel smiles. “As you wish.”

By the time I realize how late it’s gotten, the afternoon sun is slanting through the sitting room windows. My stomach growls. Loudly.

Gabriel looks down at it. “Was that your stomach?”

I shake my head. “No, there’s a bear under the sofa.”

His lips twitch. “Perhaps you should eat something.”

“Probably.”

I start to get up, but his hand tightens around mine.

I glance at him.

He’s looking at his other hand.

His fingertips are gray.

“Oh, crap.” I immediately scoot closer. “Here. Let me⁠—”

“April.”

“What?”

“Let it happen.”

I freeze. “What?”

He looks at me. “Let me return to stone.”

I stare at him. “Why?”

“Because you’ve spent the better part of the day keeping me human. The better part of the last several days, actually.”

“So?”

“So you have other things to do.”

I blink. “Like what?”

He raises an eyebrow.

“Eat. Sleep. Attend to your own affairs.”

“I can do those things later.”

“You shouldn’t have to.”

I stare at him.

He looks down at our joined hands. Then back at me. “I have spent one hundred and forty-three years as stone. A few more hours will not kill me.”