Liam didn't hesitate. He bit into his finger sharply until a small bead of blood welled up.
The wound sealed within seconds, but not before he let a single drop fall onto the egg's shell.
The effect was immediate, as the golden runes blazed to life, flaring across the egg's surface in brilliant spirals.
Then he felt something ancient brushing against his consciousness. A spark of awareness deep within the egg stirred.
Liam gasped quietly, steadying himself as the sensation deepened. The link was forming — he could feel it, a thin, luminous thread weaving between his soul and the being within the shell.
The light dimmed, leaving only the soft glow of golden runes pulsing faintly on the shell. And Liam found himself standing there, breathing hard but smiling.
He could feel it now—faint but undeniable—the heartbeat of the creature inside, synchronized with his own. A spark of shared vitality.
"Well," he said softly, his grin widening, "welcome to the family."
