Dragon and Pearl Lan Sizhui and Jin Ling

Once every ten years, great dragons descended upon their world to select a victim. Common folk knew little of what happened to these victims, provided by the Great Houses, but they were grateful to both the Great Houses and the dragons who protected their lands. But those born and raised in ruling houses knew that each dragon chose what to do with its victim. They could eat their victim, take him as a husband or wife, and some became dragon riders. It was all up to the dragon. During the previous Harvest, his eldest uncle had been chosen, and he was never seen again. Jin Ling hoped he was perfectly fine, alive and well. During that Harvest, he had been too young; victims were chosen between fifteen and twenty years old, all from the ruling houses. Five people, no matter who you were—the heir of a house, the son of a minister or elder, Omega, Alpha, male or female. If you drew the lot, then you belonged to the dragons. If the dragons didn't choose you, then you were free. Now he understood why his uncle was so frightened. This time, it wouldn't be just him who would draw the lot, but also his uncle's fifteen-year-old son, the heir to the House of Jin. They were both of the right age.