Guardian of the Past—One True Self

A new memory hit like a punch to the gut, dragging Parker through the chaos of emotions—the heartbreak, the pain, the moments with Tessa—until this. A voice. Small, but sharp. Cutting.

"Hey. Put him down. Now."

The command sliced through the air like a goddamn blade. It wasn't loud. It didn't need to be.

That voice—young, way too young to sound that intimidating—carried the kind of weight that could make even the darkest shadows hesitate. Cold, sharp, and scary in that unnerving way, like something way bigger was standing behind her, wearing her skin.

Julian and his goons froze. Just for a second. Then they glanced at each other and—like the morons they were—shrugged. This was years ago. Way before Parker had any real power.

Julian turned, cocky smirk locked and loaded. "Or what, Ravencroft?" His tone was pure condescension, like she was nothing but a buzzing fly.