There's something chillingly familiar about that kind of response, and the first thing to jump to Horvath's mind is that this boy is somehow yet another victim of his alternate, even though he knows the one in this world is safely sealed away in the Grimhold. Balthazar told him that himself.

The ring catches his eye around the same time it does Balthazar's however, he's just nowhere near as quick on his feet. His gaze goes from the ring to the boy's face, and back to the ring, and he pales just a little.

His voice, when it comes out at all, is much softer. "Bel... don't-"