Read Online Diamond Star by Catherine Asaro - Free Book Online

trying to hide them where they couldn't hurt him.
    "Just be careful," Mac said. When Del glanced at him, Mac smiled ruefully. "It's hard for me to imagine a Ruby prince in the holo-rock industry."
    Del laughed without humor. "I'm sure for my family, it's hard to imagine anyone paying me to do this."
    "Really?" Mac seemed genuinely surprised. "They know how you sing."
    "They think I'm just making noise. They've never heard of rock, and I doubt they'd care if they knew about it." Del shook his head. "I'm not like them. I'm no prodigy or great fighter pilot. I'll never have a degree in anything. I can't teach or do scholarship or be a delegate in Assembly." Such simple words, and they hurt so much. "All I ever wanted was my music. And maybe even to have people want to hear it." Softly he said, "You gave me that today. Let me enjoy it while it lasts."
    Mac's gaze never wavered. "You don't have to be a genius or world leader to consider your life worthwhile."
    "Try living in my family," Del said with a bitterness he didn't want to feel. "Try being the only failure out of all those extraordinary people. Then tell me that."
    "Del--"
    He lifted his hand to stop Mac. He couldn't take any more. With a jerk, he indicated a gold tower below them. "Why are we circling that?"
    Mercifully, Mac let go of his other questions. "That's the Star Tower. We're in a holding pattern to land on the roof flyport."
    "Oh." Del set his hand down.
    In moments, the flycar was descending. As it landed on the roof, Mac said, "I had quite a talk with General McLane tonight."
    Del winced. "I'm afraid to ask about what."
    Mac didn't tiptoe around the subject. "We'd like you to keep your identity a secret. The fewer people who know, the easier it will be to protect you."
    The request didn't surprise Del. Nor did he object, even if it did come from the authoritarian McLane. He had no desire to have his name associated with his famous kin. If he had some small measure of success, he wanted it to come from his singing, not because he was a member of the Ruby Dynasty.
    "I hadn't planned on telling anyone," Del said.
    Someone swung open his door, and he looked up to see his bodyguard standing outside. The man had no uniform, just casual slacks and a holo-mesh shirt, but he had military emblazoned all over him, from his buzzed hair to his rigid posture.
    Del glared at Mac. "He's not coming with me."
    "You can't go alone," Mac said. When Del scowled, he added, "No, he won't be on your date with Ricki. He'll escort you into the Sheraton. After they take you to Ricki, he'll join the guards in the key-room for the penthouse Prime-Nova keeps here." Dryly he added, "Prime-Nova has better security than we do at the base."
    "What for?" Del asked, intrigued.
    "Entertainment is a huge business," Mac said. "And Prime-Nova is one of the largest conglomerates. A lot of people want to be where you are right now."
    Del wasn't sure what to think about that, but it reminded him of the idealized fantasy so many people had of Ruby Heirs. They had no idea. Those fantasies had nothing to do with reality.
    He stepped out of the flycar and stood next to the Marine. Looking up at the large fellow, he said, "Hello." He would have expected Fitz to choose someone less obvious, but then, he knew so little about life here, he had no idea what was obvious.
    "Good evening, Your Highness," the man rumbled.
    "You better not call me 'Highness' once we're inside," Del said.
    "I won't," the Marine assured him.
    Del hesitated, not wanting to feel intimidated by his own guard. "What's your name?"
    "Sergeant Cameron."
    Del nodded awkwardly to the giant. Then he turned to Mac, who was still in the car. "Thanks for talking to me."
    Mac scooted over to Del's side. "Just remember what I said."
    Del grinned. "Aren't you worried about Ricki, stuck with a reprobate like me?"
    Mac smiled. "Call me tomorrow, all right? We need to talk about your contract."
    "Sure." Del lifted his hand in farewell.
    Then he headed