Jared’s body finally gave out.

He dropped to one knee in midair, his face pale as paper, his breath so faint it was barely there.

The draconic energy around him vanished completely. Only a thin layer of golden light clung to his body, weak enough to fade at any moment.

Still, he kept his head lifted, his gaze fixed on Josephine.

The tenderness in his eyes—the love—didn’t fade in the slightest.

Even with death closing in, even with hellfire tearing through him from the inside, he never looked away.

“Josephine…”