“Black is everyone’s color.” He lets one side of his mouth lift in an appreciative smile and ducks his head.

“I bet Dylan likes you in black,” I say with a smirk. I finally got to meet William’s boyfriend a few weeks ago. Dylan’s a senior. Tall guy with deep brown skin and a wide smile. Adorable and kind and majoring in environmental justice.

William’s face dims. “He does. Did.”

“Did?”

“We broke up.” He leans against the doorjamb. “Or rather, I broke up with him.”

“What?” My jaw falls open. “When?”

William takes a slow, measured breath. “The day after Arthur Called.”

“Why—”

“That night in the cave, I felt something,” William says. “A sort of pull. In my chest. Did I tell you that?”

I shake my head. “No. Nick said something similar about the Rite of Kings.”

“I felt it then, too.” He nods. “I wonder if we all did. All of the Scions, our knights’ spirits tugging at our souls like fish on a line. It reminded me that I am the Scion of Gawain no matter where I am or what I’m doing. We get so few choices. I keep saying it, but it’s true,” he says quietly. “And I chose to let Dylan go.”

“Because Arthur Called? Or Camlann?” I ask, then swallow. “Or me?”

William pushes to standing. “All one reason at this point, don’t you think?” Bitterness sweeps across his face, there and gone.

“Will…”

“Came to let you know that Alice figured out the ID printing.” He slips me a driver’s license that has my old Early College ID photo next to a new name and address.

I hesitate, but follow his lead rather than dig more about Dylan. “ ‘Ramona Pierce’?” I ask.

“Yep.” He jerks his chin over his shoulder. “We’re ready when you are, Ramona.”

I stare at myself in the mirror to evaluate whether Ramona Pierce is going to draw attention. The marks on my neck have faded to almost nothing, so I won’t look like someone just tried to kill me. Again.

Before I leave the room, I add my chosen weapons. The safety pin and Band-Aids for my next blood offering get hidden behind the tunic in a small interior pocket. Next, I slide one of the retractable swords into my boot. I grabbed it because it reminded me of Nick’s, and made him feel close even though I’m no longer running toward him, but away.

I wonder about the other Legendborn and whether Cestra’s lies worked. Whether they’d believe I’d just give up on everything and go into hiding.

I suppose I can’t blame them for believing it now that it’s exactly what I’m doing.

I’m just lacing up my belt to pull the tunic tight when I walk into the living room. “Okay, Ramona is ready. Alice, who—”