Forty years before there was a Sun Summoner, there was a Tidemaker who the True Sea spoke to. Tormented by tragedy, she looks to return to the rest of the world, but will the Darkling teach her how to love or how to hate? And once he's through with her, will she ever be able to love again? /So I felt like if I were to create a character to be the perfect match for Nikolai, they'd have to be something special, which is why the first chunk of this story centers on Nataliya and not our favorite king himself. / Disclaimer: I don't own anything other than the picture on the cover which I actually took and made (go me!). Additional disclaimer: most of this is unedited and near trash, not gonna lie. If you want, message me about it, and I might be able to fix up a few things or something like that. PS: I'd love to hear from you with any and all ideas/comments/constructive criticisms/ or if you just want to scream and die at the magic that is this series and want to talk! Many thanks, and happy reading!

Don't look so shocked, I'm nothing if not a negotiator," The privateer grins, tapping his chin in a mockery of thought, "Though I do so love exceeding people's expectations, so I suppose a bit of shock is inevitable. ~~~ childhood friends | strangers | lovers (the star crossed kind of course) Nikolai Lantsov x Grisha OC If you don't like dramatic irony this story will not be for you. ~~~ This is only canon for the first Grishaverse series. When I wrote T&T, I hadn't read Six of Crows or King of Scars so there won't be any spoilers. ~~~ Lying never came naturally to Korina. Even after years of friendship with the most cunning boy in Ravka she still hasn't mastered the craft. So after Nikolai left it was only a matter of time before the truth came out. She skipped her Grisha examination thirteen years ago and now they want her back. Now on the run from both the First and Second Army, Korina makes her way to the coast, hoping to flee to Novyi Zem on a merchant vessel. She's close enough to freedom to taste it on the salty air when she makes her first mistake. She gets on the wrong ship. A Pirate's ship. ~~~ Prequel to Shadow and Bone. warning ~ talk of sexual assault | nothing spicier than in the grishaverse books | Siege and Storm spoilers ~ obviously lol 27,000 words | fourteen parts | completed