Ruinous CreaturesRuinous Creatures

"She tilts her head for me, and I kiss up her neck. It isn't enough. I want her. All of her. In one quick move, without a thought for consequences, I remove her ill-fitting mask. Yes! I hear in my head at the exact same moment she cries out, "No!" It's too late. I have a mere moment to enjoy her beauty. A second later, the world flashes gold, then goes dark." --
"In a sanctuary for magical creatures hidden deep within a valley, magic is born from the bones of extraordinary creatures. For generations, a privileged few have siphoned this magic by wearing the skulls of these creatures and wielding their power. Adela spends her days meticulously preparing these skulls to be matched, ensuring the magic endures and the valley sustains. But when she discovers two phoenix skulls--creatures she had believed only legend--she can't resist the pull of their dormant magic. Defying the warnings of her mentor, Adela awakens the skulls, unleashing a shockwave of power that throws the valley into chaos. Meanwhile, determined novitiate Kian prepares for the upcoming matching ceremony, but harbors a secret: he is only participating in order to destroy the magic of the skulls to avenge the death of his parents at the hands of this tradition of power. As Adela and Kian's fates intertwine in the matching hut, the connection between them grows deeper and the power of the phoenix skulls grows louder. An impulsive kiss seals their fate--to each other and each to one of the phoenix skull masks. As they grapple with the consequences of their powerful new magic, their fated connection becomes the key to either the valley's salvation or its ultimate collapse." -- from amazon.com