“Thicker Than Blood” is the sixth story in the Guardian series. It takes place in modern-day Philadelphia, three months after the events of DEMON NIGHT.

“Thicker Than Blood” was written as a stand-alone story, and everything you need to know about the Guardian mythology is given within the novella. The hero and heroine are introduced in this novella, and although several of the secondary characters have appeared in other books in the series, all of the relevant backstory is included in the novella. An introduction to the Guardian mythology and history would not be out of place, however, so that is what I’m giving here.

In the First Battle, Lucifer led his rebels against Heaven. In punishment, they were transformed into demons and tossed into Hell. There were also angels who refused to take sides during the First Battle; these angels were transformed into nosferatu, cursed with bloodlust and vulnerability to daylight, and sent to Earth.

The seraphim who lived in Caelum watched over humans, and protected them from demons and nosferatu. The seraphim could never completely pass for human, however, and so the people on Earth began worshipping them as gods. When Lucifer realized this, his jealousy led him to wage another war against the angels, the Second Battle.

This battle took place on Earth, and Lucifer had with him a dragon from Chaos, and hellhounds. The angels began to falter before the dragon — but mankind, witnessing the battle taking place, joined the angels. One man, Michael, managed to destroy the dragon by cutting through its heart with his sword.

After the Second Battle, the seraphim retreated from Caelum, and gave Michael the power to guard humans on Earth, and to transform other men into Guardians. Because they were once men, Guardians can pass as human, and walk among those they protect.

As you begin “Thicker Than Blood,” it might help to know that: In DEMON ANGEL, Lucifer lost a wager with Michael, and the Gates to Hell have been closed. A few demons remain on Earth, but the rest are trapped inside Hell, where a war for the throne is being waged between Lucifer and Belial.

Before DEMON ANGEL, most vampires weren’t aware of the existence of Guardians and demons, although they are vaguely aware of nosferatu. But since the events of DEMON MOON, vampires are becoming aware of Guardians and demons, and communities are wary of both.

In DEMON NIGHT, a new race of demons called the nephilim were introduced. Although much about the nephilim is still unknown, it’s clear that they’ve been slaughtering vampires in several large cities worldwide.