Her name was Emma, and she was human.
The first time they met she was a child, they both were. She couldn't swim, but she'd fallen off a porting dock, and she happened to be there to save her. The next few days she'd come back and they'd talk, but then her family moved away.
It'd been 13 years since that day, Emma was 18 and Nerida was 17, and she's moved back.
Her name was Nerida, Greek word for mermaid, but most people called her Nair, and she just want to be happy. But the love she had? It was forbidden in her family, but she doesn't care.
Think you know mermaids?
Think again.
(Think underwater Twilight)
****
"Our waters are changing. We've known it for a while now.
We can sense it. We can taste it. We can feel it."
Imagine growing up your whole life believing you know who you are, who you will become. You spend years training to become accepted into your clan. And on the day of your Testing, you fail. Imagine what happens then.
Leira, a young Mer is forced to fight for her survival in a world where friends can quickly become enemies, identities merge, and something is lurking - deep below the water.
*Remember to check out "Water Before: A Prologue" to read the short story that accompanies this novel!*