It took far too long for him to move the blade away, but Valdis didn't dare move until he did so. The blade might not be absolutely fatal to her, but it would be extraordinarily unpleasant to die on it again. The moment he drew the sword away, she moved back, out of reach. She didn't think he would change his mind, but she was still confused over why the blade hadn't burned him.

"You shouldn't be able to touch it," she replied, "It should have rejected you like it does everyone else. As for why I can wield it, its magic is tied to my soul."

And she was technically an angel, so perhaps that had something to do with it.