Archons x male reader
Candle lights flicker, rain drops onto the ground.
7 souls captured in the heart of darkness.
The candle, extinguished.
Credit to the artist who drew the art in the story cover.
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Chapter Seventeen: The Watcher in the Tree
Hidden among the dense branches of an old oak tree, a man sat, his eyes fixated on the small cottage below. His breathing was shallow, barely audible above the rustling of leaves in the cool night air. But his gaze was sharp, unwavering, as he watched the lone figure inside the dimly lit room.
Y/N.
The object of his obsession moved about the room with such grace, so unaware of the eyes that followed his every movement. The man’s fingers clenched the rough bark of the tree as Y/N reached up to pull his shirt over his head. The pale light from the lantern on the bedside table cast a soft glow over his skin, illuminating the curves and lines of his body.
The man’s lips curled into a smile, a dark glint flashing in his eyes. Y/N had no idea how long he had been watching him. How many nights he had spent, hidden away in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to make his move. Watching Y/N undress had become a ritual, an intimate moment that only he was privy to.
His heart raced as Y/N moved to the bed, sitting on the edge as he absentmindedly folded his clothes. The man’s mind wandered, and a sick sort of satisfaction filled him as he imagined what their life together would be like. He could already picture it so clearly—Y/N by his side, a beautiful and willing partner, as they built a life together.
Y/N loved him. He was sure of it. Even if Y/N didn’t realize it yet, the man knew deep down they were meant to be together. Fate had brought him to Y/N’s cottage, to this isolated life in the woods. It was destiny, and soon Y/N would understand that.
The man had studied every aspect of Y/N’s life. He knew his habits, his routines, even the tiny details that no one else seemed to notice. He knew how Y/N preferred the mornings, always taking quiet strolls through the forest. He knew how Y/N rarely ate breakfast but often lost track of time when he was caught up in his hobbies. He knew about the dolls too—the ones Y/N had brought into his home recently.
The dolls…
At first, they had seemed like nothing, just simple trinkets, broken toys that Y/N had taken pity on. But lately, the man had noticed something strange. It was the way Y/N interacted with them, almost as if they provided him with some comfort, some sense of companionship. Y/N never used to bring them outside with him. But now, he carried one almost everywhere he went.
The man’s smile faded as a flicker of jealousy sparked in his chest. He had watched Y/N place the smallest doll in his basket earlier today when he had gone to the market. Why did Y/N need those dolls when he was there? When he was the one who truly cared for Y/N?
But soon, none of that would matter. Y/N would forget about the dolls, forget about his solitary existence. The man would make sure of it.
His fingers tightened around the branch beneath him as he watched Y/N slip into his nightclothes, settling into bed with a tired sigh. The man’s mind began to spin, plotting his next move. It had to be soon. He couldn’t wait much longer. Y/N was his, and it was only a matter of time before he claimed him.
