The fairy turned and flew straight into a bubble with a comical boing. She squeaked in dismay as the bubble grew and enveloped her. Trapped inside the translucent red prison, she pounded her fists against the walls. The other three fairies quit pinpricking Sloan and waved their wands to free their companion, but their saccharine streams of high fructose corn syrup could not pierce the blood.

One of the other Woodburies jabbed an accusatory finger at Sloan. The others pouted and fumed. "You can't do that! You can't use barrier magic, you're not supposed to!"

Sloan allowed herself a hoarse, throaty laugh. She let her gun float by her side and held up her hands. "Not me."

"Whaaat!" said a Woodbury. "Not you, then—"

Delaney, head fully healed, pounced from a nearby shelf and seized the fairy in her hands. The remaining two fled in terror as Delaney tackled her prey to the ground, pinning it under her elbow. The fairy squirmed and beat its wings against the ground as Delaney cackled madly and raised her gleaming red dagger above her head.

(Chapter 16)