Sara's Dilemma

In Harlequin's Shadow, Sara laments that Neal has been targeted by a group of black widow spiders. It's bad enough that Python, the head of Ydrus, is a woman, but also lurking in the shadows is Kate. Could she make another play for Neal? Then there's Astrena, a Greek muse with lethal potential. In addition, Sara learns to her dismay that Neal has to pretend to be infatuated with the blonde bombshell Bianka. Black widows are known to eat their mates. This is not a good situation for him or Sara.

Warning for minor spoilers to Harlequin's Shadow

Sara realizes there's only one person to blame—me. But as I told her, how could I resist? Neal's a romantic. He was destined to be plagued by a gaggle of female schemers. Up to now, the villains in Caffrey Conversation have in large part been men, but Penna and I are firm believers in equal opportunity for all.

Sara's not the only one who senses a threat. Astrena is aware of Bianka's interest in Neal, and she doesn't like it. Astrena has several weapons in her arsenal to make Bianka's life miserable. It appears that black widows don't only attack males but also their competition.

So far Sara has managed to escape Astrena's web. Since she and Neal are dating in secret, Astrena only knows that he's been seeing another blonde. That may protect Sara, but it doesn't help our romantic hero. Astrena is a jealous goddess. Seeing Neal date two different women while rejecting her overtures could turn a venomous spider into something even deadlier.

Harlequin's Shadow on Archive of Our Own
Harlequin's Shadow on FanFiction