“They are one of my favorite stones to work with,” Keirian said, his eyes glancing up to the clip he had just fastened in Jasper’s hair. “There are so many properties to moonstones, one of them being a protective energy. My magic builds upon that, but the enchantment is the key.” 

“Keirian is the best mage Lumen has ever seen.” Kade beamed at his husband who gave a small wave. 

“Ah, your father is still sweet talking me after twenty-one years together,” Keirian chuckled. Jasper wiped the errant tears that still dripped down his cheek, smiling with nothing but deep love at his fathers in front of him.  

“Anyway, my enchantment,” Keirian continued. “It will lead you to safety, no matter where you are or how far you travel from home. And you never have to worry about losing it either. The clip can only be removed by me, you, or Kade.” 

“So I can wear it while swimming?” The question sounded ridiculous to Jasper’s ears as soon as it left his lips, but his father’s abilities never ceased to amaze him. He wanted to know everything he could about the unique gift. Keirian smiled and nodded.  

“Yes, you can wear it while swimming. Or fighting, heaven forbid you find yourself in a predicament.”

Jasper felt the clip sitting in his hair. It seemed to envelope him in a calming warmth that felt exactly like Keirian’s embrace. 

“You guys act like I’m never coming back,” Jasper laughed lightly as warm tears streamed down his cheeks. He wrapped his father in another hug and was met with a firm hug behind him. Kade pulled his eldest son and husband in close for a group hug. The short, sweet moment was quickly interrupted by the sound of pattering feet and huffs coming closer from another room.

“I got it!” Ryker called out as he bounded back into the main room. Kade released his grasp, allowing Jasper to breathe a bit easier. Keirian cursed just a little to himself at the idea of letting Jasper go, but he knew Ryker was excited to give his big brother something as a gift. Jasper made sure to clean the tears from his face the best he could before turning around to face Ryker.

“What do you have for me, Ryker?” Jasper asked with a tilt of his head.

“Hold out your hand and close your eyes,” Ryker ordered. 

Jasper giggled and knelt down to Ryker’s level. He did as he was told and held out one gloved hand with eyes closed. Part of him was a little worried that he would be met with an insect of some kind, but when Ryker placed something in Jasper’s palm, it was cold and hard.

“Open your eyes!” Ryker exclaimed triumphantly with his hands on his hips. Kade put his arm around Keirian and chuckled as they watched the exchange. Keirian leaned into his husband and rested his head on the larger man’s shoulder. 

“A coin? Are you buying me dinner, Ryker?” Jasper looked down at the large coin in his hand and smiled. Ryker pushed his eyebrows together and clicked his tongue. 

“It’s not for spending, brother!” Ryker took the coin out of Jasper’s hand and tapped on it. “This is my luckiest coin from my collection. It’s to help keep you from getting eaten by dragons.” 

Ryker had probably a hundred coins in this collection of his. Jasper would joke and call Ryker a hoarder but Ryker insisted that each coin served a purpose. He was a smart kid and could remember when and where he had found the coins. This one that he put back into Jasper’s palm was a silver coin that he recalled having found in the pond on their property.

Jasper heard their dads giggling behind him. Ryker looked at each of them very seriously and folded his arms. 

“As long as Jasper has this coin, he won’t get eaten by a dragon!” Jasper closed his hand around the coin and ruffled Ryker’s hair with his empty hand before standing up.

“Thank you, Ryker. I’ll make sure I don’t lose it. Wouldn’t want to get eaten, now would I?”

“If you come home without it, Mango will eat your blanket,” Ryker said as threateningly as he could. Jasper placed the coin in one of the pouches on his belt and patted the pouch itself. He took a deep, slow breath as his stomach filled with butterflies. 

It was time to leave.

Kade dropped his arm from where it held his husband and took a step toward the young man who had changed his life. 

“Good luck out there,” Kade hugged Jasper tight once more. “Be careful. Only travel at night. Make sure you portion your food. And–” 

“Dad,” Jasper sniffled and pulled himself gently from his crying father’s arms. “Don’t worry so much.” 

Kade shook his head and rested his hands on Jasper’s shoulders. 

“It’s my job to worry.”

Jasper smiled and nodded. Keirian removed his glasses completely and cleared his throat. Jasper’s smile slowly faded when he was met with blood-shot eyes and a tear-stained face from his usually-composed father.  

Keirian wrapped his arms around Jasper and held him as tight as he could manage. Jasper thanked his lucky stars that Keirian wasn’t as strong as Kade, otherwise the intensity of the hug would have had him gasping for breath.  Jasper leaned his head against Keirian’s hair as he hugged his father back. 

“Dad, you’re going to have to let me go,” Jasper whispered. Keirian nodded, but kept Jasper in his embrace for a moment longer. When he finally let go, Keirian put his glasses back on and retreated back to Kade’s side. Jasper rested one hand on the hilt of his sword and the other on the strap of his bag across his chest as he watched his father’s hold on to one another.