Marino was taking a huge risk in Merfolk Kingdom as his kind was genuinely not wanted there.
In fact, the same men that were egging him on would as easily turn around behead him and put his head on a spike for retribution for all the atrocities his kind had committed with merfolk.
To a vampire lacking in self control a merfolk's blood was a powerful aphrodisiac and highly addictive, it could turn them into rabid monsters just to get a fix of merfolk blood if they had the misfortune to get addicted.
He pushed those thoughts aside and focused on his opponent; the last thing he needed was to get distracted.
All he wanted to do was win and defeat the woman after she made such a bold declaration. He felt a sense of camaraderie and male pride with the other men as they egged him on to win.
Ready, set, go!
They were off and Eileen who had been slouching now sat on the edge of the chair ramrod straight with her spine.
