The Assassin's Leman

Orchestrated Losses

10 Years Prior

There was nothing but serenity in the air.

Two boys.

Identical twins.

It was the biggest and rarest blessing in the royal family. Beyoncé was overly excited, probably more than me if that were possible. My body was so light, it hadn't even felt as if I pushed two babies out of my just hours ago.

"I want some more already....they're so beautiful," she kissed up and down my face as if I had given her the breath she was breathing.

"Bey!" I chuckled, grabbing her face inside of my hands.

"I'm serious, you've given me the best gifts in life ever. I don't want to stop just here...."

Her eyes shot through me, hot and piercing, ready and willing. My soul nearly trembled in fear at the feeling of it all.

"Marry me," she demanded for the third time in a sixth month span. It was something that didn't sit right with my spirit, I had to protect myself and her, now our babies at the end of each and every day.

"That's impossible," I muttered with tears falling free from their barriers. She frowned, using her thumbs to sooth the wet skin dry. "It's not, baby....I can step down right now. If my sons want the throne, they can have it or give it to Solange when that time comes."

I opened my mouth but nothing came out.

"I won't be the first to do so, Nik. My uncle, my-"

"Bey, we can't! And we won't!"

My mother walked in, Beyoncé pulled away from my face out of respect for the elder in the room. With the warmest smile and most motherly aura, Mama walked up to the babies who were asleep in the hospital cribs feet away from my bed.

"Identical, must be a twin for each parent."

Bey laughed, walking up to the babies.

Bryce Grant Knowles and Bennett Onyx Knowles, my two boys. While Bryce's skin was that of Beyoncé's, Bennett had the smoothest dark caramel skin. Bryce's hair was sandy brown, nearly blonde, and Bennett had jet black hair.

Their faces were exactly alike though, they were the best things that ever happened to me.

"Would you ever let your boys visit their GranGran?" Mama asked, causing me to perk up with curiosity.

"Mama C, you live with us, what do you mean?" Bey chuckled nervously, just as lost as I was.

The Knowles' Ranch

I shuddered at the last memory I had of my mother and pushed Bennett's hair back. He stirred in his sleep but never opened his eyes.

"How much longer?" Beyoncé stood in the threshold of the door, smiling at me while taking sips of the blackened coffee as if it were water.