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That was fine Let the rest of the vampire world underestied to hold on to Dublin with apparent ease He was happy to take advantage of his reputation as a playboy He also knew the quickest way to win a fight was to avoid one in the first place

At least fights that weren’t for his own ah"

"And how ainst me?"

"Only a hundred," Declan said "She seemed a bit halfhearted about it too"

"I suppose so herin love when the new lad landed his second punch to Murphy’s jaw He felt his lip split Tasted the blood as it flooded his rinned He could feel one eye swelling up, and he resisted the urge to laugh

Yes

He’d e of adrenaline and endorphins through his body If there was one thing he missed about mortal life, it was this

Pain Pleasure Aches and breaks When he was boxing, he felt alive

He always held back against human opponents The rule with the lads was he couldn’t use vath… as much as that was possible He’d been a vampire for over one hundred sixty years It was hard to reth" felt like

Too often, i more and more absent from life He loved the power he’d attained Loved the wealth and the influence--and yes, the finer things he’d acquired But he hs and lows There was a period of ti had left when she did

A blow to his kidney knocked him back into the uard? Murphy danced in the corner, fists up as thebeat of the Clash filled the basement pub he kept open for histo To him from the corner

It was a boys’ club, he had no proble it Not that there was any lack of fe his bloody torso with clear intent

Hu

Murphy picked up his head and leaned into the lad, landing one quick blow to his right kidney that knocked the wind out of him The hu a bit, and felt his knuckles split open

The flash of red ignited the crowd