After discovering the existence of the human-Mer hybrid Gabriel Braven, the Mer realize that there might still be others like him among the human population.  Mer Lord Aemrys Liseas has been tasked by the king and queen of the Mers to find these children and bring them home.  

Aemrys has already found love and loss among the humans.  He has no intention of ever opening his heart again. He has determined to dedicate himself only to his people.  Love is a complication he does not need.

Graduate student Spencer Long has been haunted by the ocean ever since his mother took her own life by walking out into the Pacific Ocean one starry night.  She claimed that she would not die but meet his father under the sea.  Her body was never found, but Spencer was sure she drowned.  Yet then Spencer learned of the Mers through his work with Dr. Rebecca Cleave. Now he wonders if his dreams of his mother calling to him from magnificent kelp forests are just dreams after all.  

He wants answers from this Mer Lord Aemrys Liseas and nothing else ...