King Cosmo Septimus of ruler, leader… Fool. In truth, the kingdom has been under the authority of the Commune for some years—a ruthless government whose leader, the Grand Magister, holds the king under his control. Enter a world where the powers gifted to mortals by an ancient god present themselves in unsuspecting members of the kingdom, and where the Grand Magister will do everything to ensure they are brought under his sway or executed as traitors. In this short story, you will begin to understand just why King Cosmo is unable to fight against the ruthless guidance of a selfish, power-hungry man. And why it may be hopeless for him to even try. The King’s Decree is part of the world of The Commune’s Curse series, and is set three years before the first book in the series, Awakening, which is available now. Book 2 is due for release in late 2024, so now’s a great time to delve into this dark fantasy series! Praise for The Commune’s Curse Book 1: "Tight and fascinating world-building that will delight fantasy fans, coupled with clear-eyed portraits of trauma in its characters that raise it above the usual standard." - Daniel M. Ford, best-selling author of The Paladin and The Warden fantasy series "I was struck by McLaren's exquisite prose [and] the fast pace of her story...[ The Commune's Curse Book 1] completely captivated me from the move this book to the top of your TBR pile, it's an absolute stunner!" —Cindy van Wilder, author of The Trespassers series