“Just tired,” she said. “Still recovering from the scene the other night.”
Scene. Right. The fire play scene two nights ago? Or was it three? Time was blurring. Then there had been her scene with Majesty…
“Makes sense,” I heard myself say. “That was intense.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Majesty pressed, but his eyes were struggling to focus too.
“I’m fine. Really. Should I start the truck?” She stood and started clearing dishes, even though none of us had finished eating.
Work… right.
I stood, and the room tilted slightly. I caught myself on the edge of the table.
“Lex.” Majesty was at my side immediately. “You’re swaying.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine. You need sleep.”
“I’ll nap during lunch.” The words came automatically. “I just need to make it through the morning sessions.”
Cami was watching us with concern in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything. Just handed me a travel mug of fresh coffee.
“Thank you,” I said, and meant to say more. Meant to ask her how she was really doing. Meant to notice that she’d barely eaten anything. But the words got lost somewhere between my brain and my mouth.
The morning sessions were brutal.
I watched scenes with half-focused attention, catching major safety issues but missing subtleties I would normally pick up on immediately. My notes were sparse. My feedback generic.
A submissive approached me during a break. Alexandra, I think. Or maybe Alexandria. Someone I’d worked with at past workshops.
“Lex, can I get your opinion on something?” She touched my arm lightly, familiar and casual.
I tried to focus on what she was saying. Something about rope tension and weight distribution. Important. I should care about this.
“Try redistributing the primary support points,” I heard myself say. Technical. Accurate. Automatic.
She laughed at something. Had I made a joke? I didn’t remember making a joke. My eyes drifted across the room, looking for Cami. She was standing near the wall, watching another scene. But she was looking at me. At us. At Alexandra’s hand on my arm. I should go to her. Should explain this was just professional. But Alexandra was still talking, and my braincouldn’t process two things at once right now. By the time I looked back, Cami had turned away.
Lunch couldn’t come fast enough.
I was swaying on my feet when Majesty finally pulled me aside. “That’s it. You’re done. Go rest.”
“I can make it through the afternoon.”
“No, you can’t. You almost walked into that suspension rig.” He gripped my shoulder. “I got Derek and Arlo to help supervise. Go to the cabin. Sleep. That’s an order.”
“Majesty—”
“I mean it.” His voice was firm despite his own exhaustion. “You’re no good to anyone like this. And you’re going to hurt yourself or miss something critical.”
He was right and I knew it.
“Okay,” I conceded. “But just a few hours. Wake me if?—”
“I’ll handle it. Cami!” He called across the room. “Can you drive Lex back to the cabin? He needs to rest.”
She appeared at my side almost immediately. “Of course.”
